Culture of Egypt
Katelyn Mahosky
May 23, 2010
Mrs. Bowen
What’s the first thing that you do when someone hands you a plate of French fries?
Many Americans reach for the salt. In Egypt, this is considered an insult, to salt your food.
However, not using salt is not the only aspect of Egyptian culture, of course! The Egyptian
culture strongly values family and respect. Table manners are also important when in Egypt. In
order to avoid hurting another’s feelings, it is important to learn and respect other’s culture
before visiting their country.
First, you should understand the proper introductions before vacationing to a new
country. In Egypt, the type of greeting depends not only on social class but also religion. It is
best to follow the actions of the Egyptian you are greeting. If this rule of thumb does not work,
it’s good to know that handshakes are common, when the people are of the same sex. The
handshake should be limp and often last for a prolonged period of time. They should also be
given with a smile and direct eye contact. If a male is greeting a female, they must wait for her to
extend her hand to shake it. If the female does not offer a handshake, the male should bow his
head in greeting. Also, a kiss on each cheek may be given between members of the same sex
while they shake hands.
If you are invited into an Egyptian’s home, it is a sign of respect to bring a girt for the
hostess. Common gifts include pastries, sweets, and high quality chocolates. Flowers are not a
good idea, however. They are usually reserved for the ill or weddings and you should not bring
them to a dinner unless you are positive that the hostess will appreciate them. You may want to
bring a small gift for the children as well. Gifting the children is a sign of affection in Egypt.
Unless the gift is heavy, it should be presented with the right hand. However, both hands may be
used if the gift is too heavy to hold single-handedly. Also, do not feel offended if the hostess or
children do not open their presents when you present them. Gifts are not commonly opened
directly after being received, as they are in America.
When invited to an Egyptian home, it’s important to provide compliments and also dress
properly. Egyptians appreciate being complimented on their homes. Shoes should be removed
before entering the home, in most cases. Your clothing should be conservative and not showy or
gaudy. Appearance is important to the people of Egypt. They value the appearance of their
houses, clothes, and even the food they serve.
Now that you’ve met the family, gotten into the home, and offered a gift, it’s time to
learn some Egyptian table manners. You should not just help yourself to a seat. Wait for the
host or hostess to tell you where to sit before taking a seat. During the meal, you should not eat
with your left hand. In fact, in Egypt, you should always eat with your right hand, as the
Egyptians do. In Egypt, it’s considered a sincere compliment to take a second helping of
whatever food is being served. However, when done eating, a little bit of food should be left on
your plate, so they do not keep giving you more and more food. Also, as I said before, skip the
salt! Egyptians consider using salt as a sign that the food is not well prepared or tastes bad.
After you eat, always show appreciation for the meal before leaving the table.
Greetings are not the only important thing to learn before visiting a new place. You must
also understand what they value and consider important. Family is very important to the
Egyptians. Actually, it’s the most significant unit of their society. All social relations are greatly
affected by kinship. Often times, one will be judged by their family and those they associate
with. Family in Egypt consists not only of the nuclear family, but the extended family as well.
Individuals are considered subordinate to their family, tribe, or group. The family’s wants and
needs must be put before those of the individual. Also, Nepotism, or bias towards one’s own
family, is looked at in a positive light in Egypt since it is patronizing one’s family.
Along with their family, Egyptians highly value honor. Honor is an important factor in
relationships that extend outside of the family. Having respect for other people is not only a
right but also an obligation. One must show respect to those around him at all times. An
individual’s honor is greatly impacted by the reputation of the honor of everyone in their family.
A man or women must never go back on their words. Their words are considered a bond, and it
would be against their family’s honor to break that bond. To maintain their honor, an individual
must dress as well as financially possible. They must also respect and defend their elders as well
as those in authority. Egyptians must also show hospitality to their friends and guests to be
considered honorable.
The last of the three things Egyptian’s highly value is social class. Unlike in America,
social class is very obvious because it determines your access to power and position. Egyptians
are born into one of three social classes; the upper, middle, and lower class. The class of an
Egyptian is determined by their family’s background more than their absolute wealth. This class
will dictate the individual’s everyday life and the opportunities they have. There is little mobility
in the social class system of Egypt. This means that if your family is a lower class family, you
will not be in the upper social class. It also means that if you are born in the middle class, you
will remain in the middle class for the extent of your entire life, regardless of how wealthy you
are. With a little help in the education department, you’re visit to another country will most
likely run much more smoothly. When in Egypt, it’s important to remember table manners and
respect.
Works Cited
"Egypt - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette Guide." Translation Services | Interpreters |
Intercultural Communication | Cross Cultural Training. Web. 23 May 2010.
<http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/egypt-countryprofile.html>.
"Egypt: Travel Tips - Culture." Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt.
Web. 23 May 2010. <http://www.touregypt.net/culture.htm>.
"World Religions and Ethical Systems." McDougal Littell World History Patterns of Interaction.
Evanston, Ill.: McDougal Littell, 2008. 296. Print.