June Holidays in Egypt
June in Egypt offers a blend of different traditional and national holidays that can amaze anyone who is interested in exploring new cultures, so you need to mark June as a suitable month to visit Egypt to experience new aspects of the country by enjoying the vibes of these holidays and discovering the local life of the Egyptians. Here are some of the most prominent June holidays in Egypt that you can know a brief about before you travel to Egypt so you can plan your itinerary accordingly to witness the celebrations.
Egypt June weather
June is considered the beginning of the summer season in Egypt, so the weather tends to be slightly hot at this time of the year, with a temperature average of 32°C during the daytime, and it cools down at night to an average of 22°C. As for Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea, it might be hotter than Cairo and North Coast cities, with a temperature average of 34°C during the daytime and 32°C at night. At the end, you will be able to enjoy your trip in June in Egypt, as the sun heat would not be as sharp as the midsummer months.
Arafat Day (6th of June)
The Day of Arafat is on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, as this year comes on 6th June. On this day, Muslims who have health and financial ability should travel to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. Pilgrims must gather at the sacred hill of Mount Arafat for praying. As in this place and on the same date 14 centuries ago, Prophet Muhammad had his final sermon, where he marked the sacredness of human life and that no ethnicity or race has any superiority over another. On the other hand, people who are not able financially to travel usually fast at this day and dedicate the day for praying and reading Quran, as believed in Islam that fasting on the day of Arafah removes the sins from the past and coming year.
Hajj Rituals
Hundreds of thousands of Hajj pilgrims travel every year before Arrafah Day to Mecca to fulfill the mandatory religious duty that every Muslim that is financially able must make at least once a lifetime. The 2025 Hajj season begins on 5 June, corresponding to the 7th of Dhul-Hijjah (1446 AH). As pilgrims are preparing for the Day of Tarwiyah, the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, when most of them head from Mecca to Mina.
On the Day of Arafat, pilgrims should stand at Mount Arafat from dawn until sunset; after that, they should spend the night in Muzdalifah. Next, the first day of Eid Al-Adha comes when pilgrims make the stoning of the Jamarat ritual, where they throw small pebbles at three stone structures in Mina; and finally, they sacrifice cattle.
Eid al-Adha (7th of June)
Eid al-Adha is “the Festival of the Sacrifice” and a significant feast in the Islamic year. It is celebrated at the final period of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid al-Adha is celebrated by all Muslims across the world, including in Egypt.
The event marks the trial and triumph of Abraham the Prophet. One of the main trials that happened when he was commanded by Allah (God) to kill his son. After getting this command, Abraham got ready to do what God asked for. When he was about to take the action, Allah revealed that the faith of Abraham had already made the sacrifice. Abraham proved that faith for god was everything to him as he was willing to give away his life and the lives of his children if God said so.
Things You Should Know About Eid al-Adha
- Egyptians usually begin Eid al-Adha celebrations with prayers in mosques and other festivities.
- This holiday, known as the feast of sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as a test of his faith.
- Close rows of men and women performed during the ritual prayers, which is an important thing of the prayers.
- After praying, many families usually enjoy the festivities by getting balloons for their children.
- Muslims who are able financially usually slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor, family, friends, and relatives during the celebration.
Traditions and Activities
During celebrating Eid al-Adha, some Muslims mark the trials of prophet Ibrahim and his loyalty for Allah by slaughtering an animal like a cow, sheep, or goat. The meat is distributed to people, especially the poor, and a part of one-third is kept to the family. The sacrifice dedicates the willingness of Muslims to denote things close to their hearts to follow the commands of Allah above anything else. Also, it highlights helping and sharing with people who are in need, which is one of the five main pillars of Islam.
Eid al-Adha is known with a specific local meat meal like any other Egyptian festival. At this day, most Egyptians have meat for breakfast as meat cut into cubes or fried liver. This is served with fatta, which is a traditional food, rice with tomato sauce, and fried bread chips. People continue eating meat at lunch and dinner. Eid al-Adha is a festival that has a socializing influence on people, as most people like to gather on this day with family and friends to celebrate and have good moments. Also, buying new clothes and helping the poor as charity are prominent features of celebrating Eid al-Adha in Egypt.
June Solstice (21st of June)
The June Solstice, also known as the Summer Solstice, is considered a significant astronomical event in Egypt and occurs typically on the 20th or 21st of June. This is the day when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky and causes the longest period of daylight.
Historical Significance
- The solstice had great importance in ancient Egypt. The alignment of specific temples, such as Abu Simbel, with the solstice sunrise is great evidence of its significance.
- The solstice was certainly associated with agriculture, marking the flooding season of the Nile, which was crucial for farming.
- In ancient periods, Egyptians celebrated with many festivals and rituals to honor Ra, the god of the sun. While many traditional celebrations have been forgotten over time.
- Some modern-day people might still make some traditions to celebrate by gathering for local events.
- Cultural institutions might organize events that mark Egypt’s great astronomical history.
Modern-Day Significance
- Tourism: The solstice is a good time for tourists who are interested in exploring Egypt’s historical sites during this unique event.
- Activities: People usually use this this longer day by spending time outdoors or getting in social activities.
El Hijira Islamic New Year (26th of June)
The Islamic New Year, known as Al Hijra in Egypt, has deep spiritual vibes. As it marks a reflective moment by beginning a new year. Some Egyptians, especially the Sufi, like to gather in mosques to start praying and listen to sermons trying to strengthen their relationship with God and have spiritual goals for the new year. The quiet vibes are the most common on this day, making it a day centered on peace and introspection.
Also, some people like to commemorate this day with prayers at specific mosques like Al-Hussain and Al-Azhar, which are the national mosques of Egypt. On the other hand, some families like to get together for meals, but public celebrations in large numbers are rare. The focus on self-reflection gives people on this day a chance to reconnect with their faith, giving attention to values of peace, kindness, and personal growth. This spiritual feast allows people to have more faith in their beliefs, spreading unity across the country.
History of the Islamic New Year
The Islamic New Year, El Hijra, highlights the beginning of the Islamic calendar. It initiated when Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab began the Hijri calendar in 622 AD, after the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. This migration, known as the Hijra, significs a new start for the Muslim community. The calendar was made to organize religious events and maintain unity within the large Islamic empire. In Egypt, this day is taken in more spiritually than festively.
Egyptian Muslims, specifically Sufis, usually embrace this day as a time for reflection. Also, mosques play an important part, offering prayers and sermons that emphasize on the significance of Prophet Muhammad’s long journey. The Islamic New Year doesn’t really feature major public celebrations in Egypt as for Egyptians, this event is less about feasting and more about deepening one’s beliefs. The introduction of this calendar was a highlighted moment in Islamic history, creating a public shared system that continues to guide religious observances worldwide.
June 30 Revolution
A pride and thanks to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who marked the June 30 Revolution and listened to the people’s call and sided with their free will. He rescued the country from civil war and religious fascism, which builds, reconstructs, develops, and changes reality to make the new Egypt of which we are all proud. In the past 10 years, Egypt has encountered various uneasy challenges, such as the revolutions of 2011 and 2013, the coronavirus pandemic, and the war of Ukrainian-Russian, but thanks to the huge efforts of President Sisi and his proactive policies, Egypt is still stable and safe. Egypt was a prominent one of the developing countries and one of the few countries in the world that had ongoing growth throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Sizzling June in Egypt: Top Tours and Holiday Ideas
June in Egypt is quite an interesting month for holiday’s lovers who are looking for feasting and having adventurous time, so here are some ideas and suggested Egypt tours in June to aid you in having a memorable vacation and enjoying your holiday:
- Islamic Cairo Tour: Since June has many Islamic holidays, it would be a good idea to know more about Muslims’s culture and history in Egypt to enjoy these holidays in different ways by sharing the vibes of the locals during celebrations.
- National Museums Tours: This month also has national holidays, so it might be interesting for you to get acknowledged with Egypt’s long history by visiting the national museums, such as the national museum of Egyptian civilization, as it has the mummies of the royal kings and queens of ancient Egypt.
- North Coast and Alexandria Tours: It would be really great to have some quality time and chill out by having some fresh air along with the beautiful crystal-water beaches in the North Coast and the outstanding tours in Alexandria.
- Nile Cruise Tour: Cruising in the Nile is something breathtaking and a lifetime experience that you don’t want to miss while you are in Egypt to explore the great history as well as have some relaxing time in the nature of the Nile river.
Egypt in June: Beat the Crowds and Enjoy the Sun
June is considered not in the touristic seasonal months in Egypt, and the beginning of the summer, so it is perfect timing to have a proper vacation for you and your family to avoid the crowd in the touristic places that you would normally face if you were traveling in the high seasons. Meanwhile, the sun wouldn’t be intense compared to the other months of the summer in Egypt, so you will be able to bear the heat and enjoy your tour.
Conclusion
June holidays in Egypt are very interesting and overwhelming for any traveler who likes to try new adventures and experience different aspects of cultures, as this month has various holidays, which makes a good blend of local traditions to offer for trying and witnessing, so Egypt travel in June is a good choice you should make for your bucket list.
