'Sham Al-Nasseem'
(The Spring Festival)

        The ancient Egyptians celebrated Spring by going out on the first day of Spring to smell the
fresh air ('Sham Al-Nasseem'). This festival continued after Christianity spread in Egypt, even to this
day.  They started by coloring eggs early in the morning and followed by hanging fresh plants on the
doors (green onions, and 'malana' garbanzo beans are popular Spring green vegetables in Egypt). They ate
eggs t hat morning and went out to the parks for a big picnic which featured salted fish ('Feessekh'
(slated bass), and 'Mollohah') with green onions and 'malana'
        Shaam Al-Nasseem now coincides with the day after Resurrection Sunday and as we continue the
tradition of our ancestors, we should remember the spiritual meaning of that feast, because as the Spring
festival is a reminder of fresh and new plant life after the death and stagnation of Winter, so is Easter is
a reminder of rebirth,  growth, and and new spiritual life through Christ's resurrection.

        Happy Spring Season, "Shaam Al-Nasseem."


(C) 1997; Dr. William A. Hanna; St. Louis, Missouri; USA.