May Holidays in Egypt
Get ready to indulge in the Egyptian culture through experiencing May holidays in Egypt around the breathtaking landmarks and outstanding ancient wonders while enjoying the weather and cool temperature in Egypt, as May is the ideal time for tours in Egypt. Also, you will find fewer crowds and exciting vacation tours, so if you are interested in visiting Egypt, you will find May as a suitable month and a good chance to embark on your journey to Egypt. So, in this article, we will go through the most prominent holidays and highlight the best attractions and tours.
Why Visit Egypt in May?
May is a great month for visiting Egypt, as you will encounter fewer crowds and cool weather to enjoy your tours and ease for you more outdoor activities without being worried about the sun heat or crowds at the touristic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza. Also, May in Egypt features many cultural events that may attract people who are interested in discovering new traditions and living the adventure.
On the other hand, you may find discounts on the prices at this time of the year, as it is the end of the touristic season in Egypt, so it would be really a chance for those who are interested to visit Egypt, as well as it is the best time to enjoy the Red Sea if you are into beach activities and adventure, as the Red Sea is well-known for these kinds of activities, such as diving and snorkeling, while having a beautiful tan at the same time during enjoying the crystal water and the nature.
May holidays in Egypt; Labor Day ( 1st of May)
Labor Day is celebrated in Egypt on May 1st annually to commemorate and appreciate the role of the workers in the country, who are building and contributing to the state’s economy. This day’s celebration goes back to ancient times, where ancient Egyptians valued work and its importance in building the society, which was one of the main factors to enable them to build the greatest and oldest civilization in the world.
Historical Background
Ancient Egypt really appreciated Labor Day, as we have many inscriptions to prove that, such as King Thutmose III’s instructions to his minister, which were inscribed on his tomb’s walls in the west bank of Luxor, and it was about guiding him to proper work management, being fair, and applying justice with quality of work. Additionally, the mind-blowing engineering design of the pyramids proves the great effort and hard work to have such a result at the end. Moving forward through the history, Egypt knew the system of sects, which dates back to the Middle Ages, as each sect had groups of workers and manufacturers of one craft, thus establishing main professional practices and ethics.
The celebration of Labor Day was initiated in 1924, in modern Egypt, then turned into an official feast during the reign of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. After that, on the 1st of May 1964, it became an official holiday, and Egypt witnessed a speech from the president of the republic before the workers’ leaders. Egypt cared about establishing factories in modern times and was determined to build about 1200 factories during the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Egypt’s Manpower Sector
Egypt nowadays has a separate ministry for each the business sector, and Manpower which were initiated in 2016 to be dedicated to workers rights and create a management system for the business market in the country, and also the government set laws for workers and the business owners to elevate the quality of living for each side, such as sick leave and annual vacation rules. Additionally, they added more advantages and valuable benefits to the public system sector for workers.
Moreover, the Egyptian state has put priorities on creating an appropriate environment for workers and helping them with increasing the production with proper working hours, as well as providing the support for female workers without discriminating in any field. On the other hand, they really cared about creating suitable opportunities for people with special needs by trying to train them to enter many fields.
Egyptian Initiatives To Protect Workers
Egypt has launched a number of initiatives, including the initiative of “Egypt is a trust in your hands,” which is made to improve the awareness between workers and business owners of their rights and duties. This initiative was made on Labor Day 2017, and it was applied in 17 governorates with 34 programs,, totally for around 1210 establishments, in which 5259 workers participated.
Moreover, the Ministry of Manpower has made a campaign that was the “Protection of Irregular Workers” and took place in April and March 2018, as the Ministry has spent millions to distribute “Aman” certificates to workers who are irregular in more than 20 cities to provide them proper life. Additionally, an amount of billions was spent for workers who were affected by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, as more than 1 million youths were appointed, including youths who are with special needs, as well as about 260,000 job opportunities were provided through 30 employment fairs.
Facts and Traditions
- This international holiday takes place on the 1st of May and is also known as International Workers’s Day or May Day.
- This holiday is not only celebrated in Egypt but in more than 80 countries all over the world as a public and official holiday.
- Labor Day is a day off for the general population in Egypt, as well as schools and most businesses are closed.
- Labor Day is often celebrated as a day to defend workers’ rights.
- Egyptians usually spend this day resting at home or gathering with family and friends.
Escape to Egypt in May: Top Egypt Tours in May and Holiday Ideas
May in Egypt is a proper time to visit most of the prominent ancient and modern attractions in the country with fewer crowds and cool weather, so here are some suggested tours and ideas for your trip to make it memorable for you and your company of people:
- This is a great opportunity to enjoy sailing in the Nile River through a Nile cruise tour to witness beautiful nature, along with exploring the mind-blowing ancient Egyptian civilization by visiting the ancient sites such as Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Philae Temple, and more.
- It’s irresistible to come to Egypt without visiting the Red Sea, where you can relax and chill out by the amazing crystal beaches as well as make some interesting sea activities like diving, parasailing, and snorkeling, which you can all do in Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, or other Red Sea cities.
- Experiencing Egypt’s culture by visiting big cities like Cairo and Alexandria, which is a great adventure to witness people celebrating the national holidays of May and get to know more about the local traditions. On the other hand, by visiting them, you won’t lose your chance to see the great sites in both cities, such as the National Museums, open-air bazaars, and more.
- No one can visit Egypt without a pyramids tour, so Giza and Fayoum cities should always be on the list to travel back on time by visiting Egypt’s great pyramids, along with other ancient pyramids like Saqqara, the Red Pyramid, and more.
- A desert tour will add more adventure to your trip, so if you are interested in seeing nature and having some quality time, it would be a great choice for you.
- A North Coast trip would really be a refreshing thing to do in this time to chill out and relax by enjoying the beginning of the summer lying down in front of transparent water on these beautiful beaches while experiencing the feasting vibes, as the North Coast in Egypt is a spot for concerts and famous singers most of the summer.
- This is for people who are into the Bedouin culture and vibes; it would be really recommended to have a tour in Siwa Oasis to have a different experience than you’ve ever seen with trying their local delicious food and drinks, along with visiting the ancient sites and temples and relaxing in the famous salt lakes there.
- Have a night in Petra, Jordan; as both countries are extremely close to each other, you can take a quick tour to Petra and enjoy a different adventure there without worrying about the preparation of the tour that would be very easy to be arranged by Egypt United Tours.
Conclusion
May is maybe not full of national holidays in Egypt, but it is one of the suitable times of the year to enjoy Egypt and its vibrant culture, considering the cool weather as a tempting reason to start your journey and wander in the Egyptian cities to live your own adventure for a lifetime. Also, in May, you will find fewer crowds in most sites, which will ease and smooth your tours for you, as well as you can enjoy the Labor Day celebration while you are in Egypt to dive more into the Egyptian traditions and culture and enjoy the vibes.
