Kodak Agfa presents in Photos: A Cairo Christmas 2026 “7 January Shubra edition”

It’s time for the second edition of our annual Egyptian Chronicles series: Christmas in Cairo, Vol. 2.

As always, this post features photos and videos of Cairo’s Christmas decorations as the city celebrates 7 January — Orthodox Christmas, observed by Orthodox Christian communities.

Merry Christmas to all those celebrating it.

The nativity scene at Saint Ibram shop 

Okay, a brief social and historical note: most Christian Egyptians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world.

You might wonder why Christmas in Egypt is celebrated on 25 December and 7 January.

The difference comes down to the calendar. Most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar, which places Christmas on 25 December.

The Coptic Orthodox Church, however, follows the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind — hence Coptic Christmas falling on 7 January.

Interestingly, in the early centuries of Christianity, the Eastern Church—in regions such as Egypt and Syria—celebrated Theophany on 6 January.

This was a single, “double feast” commemorating both the birth of Jesus and his baptism.

It was only later that Western Christianity separated the two events, assigning Jesus’ birth to 25 December, while the Eastern churches maintained their traditions in line with the Julian calendar.

I know that in a couple of months, inshallah, I will write a similar explanation on why Egypt celebrates Easter on a different date than the West.

Anyhow, this is our Egyptian-Orthodox Merry Christmas post, and there is no better place to celebrate—or to experience the soul of an Egyptian Christmas—than in the famous district of Shubra.

I did not go to Shubra last year, so I did not know that the famous Saint Ibram store had left its old location and moved into a modern two-story building on the well-known Al-Teraa Al-Bolakia street.
 

The new Saint Ibram shop

I almost missed the new glossy building because I used to recognize the store by the large Christmas trees it used to put up.

Before I continue my visit to the store, let me share a brief history of the famous “Al-Teraa Al-Bolakia Street,” which means “The Bolakaia Pond” in Arabic and is historically and officially translated as “Al-Bolakia Canal.”

The Boulaq Canal is an integral part of modern Cairo’s history and the development of the historic Shubra district.

Commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1827 (1242 AH), Al-Bolakia Canal or Pond was designed to irrigate farmland in Cairo’s northern suburbs, including Boulaq and Shubra, and to supply water to the gardens of Muhammad Ali’s palace in Shubra al-Khaimah.

Photo of the monkey trainer, or Quradati as it’s called in
Egyptian Arabic slang, with his monkey,
in front of the Boulaq Canal in Cairo, circa 1900—“Old Egypt.”

Originally, the canal began at the Nile near Qasr al-Nil, roughly where today’s Hilton Ramses Hotel and 6th of October Bridge stand. Its route crossed what is now Abdel Moneim Riyad Square and ran alongside present-day Al-Galaa Street (formerly Boulaq Canal Street), passing through the heart of Shubra before reaching Shubra al-Khaimah.

With Cairo’s urban expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, surrounding farmland was converted into residential areas, reducing the need for irrigation—especially after the introduction of tram lines in the city.

Following the 1952 Revolution, the section of the canal in downtown Cairo was renamed Al-Galaa Street, while in Shubra it retained its historic name—Boulaq Canal Street, or Al-Teraa Al-Bolakia Street—where Saint Ibram’s Christmas decoration shop and its big Christmas trees became one of its notable landmarks in the 2000s.

For some unknown, sad reason, the store had not set up its big Christmas trees—at least not by the time I visited on 19 December 2025. Perhaps they did afterwards.

It is worth noting that the store’s owner, Amir Ghattas—originally known for Coptic Christian clerical garments—is also a leading figure in Mostaqbal Watan (Future of the Homeland) Party. Since November, Egypt has been holding parliamentary elections, which are still ongoing.

I have no doubt that Ghattas was busy with other matters amid all the election drama.

Future of Homeland Party's
Merry Christmas banners are on the top right

He used the pavement across the street to display the party’s Merry Christmas banners.

Nevertheless, mashallah, people—whether Christian or Muslim—were buying Christmas decorations from his shop and other shops and stands in the street.

Christmas wreaths and decorations sold in the street

Yes, there was less demand for plastic Christmas trees, as their prices were higher than last year. But there was a greater demand for other affordable Christmas decorations and ornaments.

Muslim and Christian families came to buy the decorations

Many people outside Egypt may not realize that many Muslims, especially from the middle and upper classes, buy Christmas trees as a tradition to celebrate the New Year, not Christmas.

Plastic Christmas trees for sale in the street

Santa Claus has long become a symbol of the New Year for many Egyptians in popular culture; even our New Year songs mention him.

Snowman and Santa welcome you 

So in a way, the Christmas tree in Egypt serves 25 December, 31 December and 7 January.

Christmas decorations for sale on Tarea Al-Bolqia Street

Now, aside from the usual Christmas decorations, I noticed an increased Egyptian interest this year, particularly in the nutcracker soldier.

Originally inspired by the hero of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s 1816 classic The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which was immortalised in Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet The Nutcracker, the annual Christmas-night performance is a beloved tradition, with the Cairo Opera House staging it every year on Christmas night.

Still, St.Claus rules.

Santas in Shubra 

That’s it for our Christmas posts this holiday season, folks! Get ready for another series of posts, inshallah, for the upcoming Ramadan season.