Feature: Egypt's ancient spring ritual, Sham El-Nessim, unites generations with salted fish and smiles


  • World
  • Tuesday, 22 Apr 2025

CAIRO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- As dawn breaks on Orthodox Easter Monday, Egyptians of all faiths gather in parks, on balconies, and along riverbanks, clutching plates of fesikh -- a pungent, fermented fish dish that has anchored the country's millennia-old festival, Sham El-Nessim, since the days of the pharaohs.

Though lesser-known beyond Egypt's borders, this 5,000-year-old celebration, whose name translates to "the smell of the breeze," marks the arrival of spring with traditions that transcend religion, class, and time.

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