Kodak Agfa Presents : A Great Cairo Christmas in video and photos

A belated Merry Orthodox Christmas

Unfortunately due to the cold, this post, its photos and its video were delayed but it is never too late to celebrate Christmas and its spirit.

I think we all need a light post to break the cycle of depressing economic news in Egypt for real.

Christmas bazaar at Capital Promenade Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayid 

This year I went to Shubra again as you may have known and seen but I did not stop there as I decided to visit other parts of Great Cairo that celebrate Christmas.

For those who do not know, despite the majority of Egyptians being Muslims but believe it or not people celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Shops, restaurants and malls hang Christmas decorations and install those big Christmas trees.

Already as a country, we celebrate both the 25th of December Christmas according to the Gregorian Calendar of the Western Churches and the official 7th of January Christmas according to the Julian Calendar. It is worth mentioning that the majority of Egyptians follow the Coptic Orthodox Church.  

I went West of Cairo, to Sheikh Ziyad upscale district and its fancy malls to see the Christmas decorations and trees at night after my Shubra trip. Already this year, the photos of Christmas decorations from Ziyad went viral on social media.

I went to Arkan Mall Plaza as I had some errands at some shop there so I seized the opportunity. Arkan Mall had this huge Christmas tree at its old entrance. It was not as glitzy as the Shubra Christmas but still, it attracted people from the mall customers to take photos in front of it.

Christmas tree at Arkan Plaza Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayid

The main attraction of the Christmas decorations in the upscale mall that hosts branches of France’s Laduree and Le Relais de entrecôte was that thing which I do not know its name.

Christmas decorations and tree at Arkan Plaza Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayid 

People whether Egyptians or Arabs took photos inside that beautiful decoration and I can’t blame them.

Christmas decorations at Arkan Plaza Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayed 

There were other decorations in the big open mall that is turning into a mini-downtown in its own way for Sheikh Ziyad.

Like that snowflake gate.

Christmas decorations at Arkan Plaza Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayed 

I did not go to the lower floor because of the errand I had to finish.

Yet I had to take a glimpse at the decorations on the lower floor.

Christmas decorations at Arkan Plaza Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayed 

Now to the other mall and its Christmas bazaar, to Capital Promenade Mall.  

Capital Promenade Mall decided to raise the bar in Sheikh Zayed and held a Christmas bazaar for local small businesses and brands.

There was also a merry-go-around which I wished to ride but the Moms there were keeping it for their kids.

Christmas bazaar at Capital Promenade Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayid 

The whole mall was decorated like that till you are led to the huge Christmas tree.

Christmas decorations and tree at Capital Promenade Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayid 

Christmas tree and decorations  at Capital Promenade Mall in Giza's Sheikh Zayid 

Some Facebook pages claim that this was the biggest tree in the district.

Now you may be amazed at how a country with a struggling economy would have malls celebrating Christmas in this way. Well, actually the malls spend millions on the Christmas decorations like that to attract customers in the high inflation time.

The customers are not the rich actually but rather the middle and upper middle class that really wants to spend a good even for few hours. Needless to say, there is more soul in Shubra than in those places despite all the glitz and amazing designs of decorations.

 
It is worth mentioning that entry to those fancy malls was only for couples or families or individual women who seem to be classy. Yes, it is a classist selection. There were guards protecting those decorations whereas, in Shubra, I can’t say that I spotted anyone protecting that huge tree in a main crowded sleepless street.

Here is a Quick Camera Tour's new episode from Sheikh Zayed and Shubra. I apologize for the bad sound in advance as well as the delay.

 

Again, Happy New year and Merry Christmas.