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Coptic Christians’ Christmas with Muslim neighbors

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January 8, 2001 

CAIRO-- (UNB/AP) -Recorded Quranic verses blared out of Aly Mohammed's tiny shop, stocked with icons of Christian saints. Right outside, firecrackers boomed and laughter rang out on Sunday as children thronged the streets to celebrate the Coptic Christmas.

Coptic Christmas is high season for Mohammed, a Muslim frame maker who for the past 20 years has been selling framed icons to Christians in the working-class neighborhood of Shubra, one of few areas in Egypt where Christians outnumber Muslims.

On Christmas, "everyone going visiting comes to buy a gift," the 53-year-old Mohammed said.

Visiting relatives is one of several Christmas traditions in Egypt, where Copts account for about 10 percent of the population. Christianity arrived in Egypt soon after the death of Christ. Islam came with the Arab conquest in 640 and Egypt yesterday is overwhelmingly Muslim.

Copts generally live peacefully in Egypt, though there are occasional outbursts of sectarian violence and some Copts complain of discrimination. On Christmas, which falls on Jan. 7 according to the calendar of the independent Coptic Orthodox Church, the Copts of Shubra had little time to think of differences with their Muslim neighbors.

"We have to wear new clothes and meet friends to plan for the day's evening outing," said Sherif Samir, 26, one of the many revelers crowding Saint Mark church in Shubra.

Extended families usually gather for lunch. Those who can afford it prepare sumptuous meals with lots of meat and poultry to make up for the month and a half of fasting preceding the feast. Fasting Copts do not eat anything containing any ingredients that come from an animal source.

Colorful swings, darts and gun-shooting games were set up in the streets of Shubra for the kids. Samir's family also set up a Christmas tree, though such Western symbols are rare in Egypt. While Romany Shukry's face lit up as he spoke of the sweets and toys he got from a Sunday-school teacher dressed up as Santa Clause, Monika Faird, seven, looked bewildered when asked about Santa.

Hassan Mohammed, a Muslim, hawked paper party hats in all colors to the Christians of Shubra.

Coptic Christmas is a normal working day for the country's Muslim majority, but Christians take the day off.

In Shubra and elsewhere, many Muslims join their Christian friends on the evening visits.

"Religion is for God and the country is for all," Mohammed, the frame maker said. His shop also caters to Muslims, with Quranic verses lying side by side with paintings of Jesus and Virgin Mary.

Mohammed said he often is asked why a Muslim would sell Christian paintings.

"This is how I earn my bread," he answers simply. "I am a man who prays and who knows God well ... and there's no difference between Muslims and Christians."