How Did The Ancient Egyptians Celebrate New Years?

The procession during the Feast of Opet

Ancient Egyptians actually celebrated their equivalent to New Years, the Feast of Opet, around the middle of June. During this time of year, the Nile River usually overflowed its banks. As a result, the people were not able to work but instead were able to take part in this multi-day celebration! The traditions of the Feast of Opet consisted of statues of the god Amon with his wife and son taken by boat in a procession down the Nile from the Mosque of Abu-el-Haggag in Karnak to Luxor. When the statues would arrive in Luxor, people would give offerings of food and drink and then start the singing, dancing and feasting for 24 days. The statues would then be returned back to the Mosque in Karnak.

How did the Ancient Egyptians Celebrate December 25?

Statue of Isis Suckling Horus, Bronze (664-332 BC)

The virgin mother Isis and her son Horus (20 BC)

I re-posted this from last year because I thought it would be very appropriate for today. Happy holidays to everyone! Thank you all for your support of Being Cleopatra and my CD, Cleopatra's Voice!

In the ancient Egyptian traditions it was customary to celebrate the birth of Horus who was born on, the equivalent, to our 25th of December in around 3000 BC.

Let me set up the story: Set, Nephtys, Osiris and Isis were the four children born from the Sky Goddess, Nut, and fathered by the Sun God, Ra. Osiris was not only a god, but he also became the first king of Egypt and married his sister Isis who gave birth to Horus. However, Isis was still said to be a virgin mother. Legend has it that Osiris was killed by his brother, Set, and his body was cut into 14 pieces which were dispersed through Egypt. Isis retrieved the remains of her husband and was able to conceive Horus.

She went into hiding in the marshes of the Nile Delta, and gave birth to Horus, the Son of God, under Sirus, the brightest star in the sky located in the eastern sky.

How Did The Ancient Egyptians Celebrate Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death (around 270 AD). However, similar Valentine's Day traditions happening in the middle of February have been recorded in many different cultures in the time BC.

"Actually, there is no proof that the good priest Valentine even existed. Some scholars trace the period of mid-February as a time for mating back to ancient Egypt. On those same days of the year that contemporary lovers devote to St. Valentine, men and women of the Egyptian lower classes determined their marital partners by the drawing of lots. But the time of coupling that comes with the cold nights in February before the spring thaw likely had its true origin very near where Valentine supposedly met his demise."

Click here to read the full article From Werewolves With Love - History Of Valentine's Day http://www.rense.com/general69/histvsl.htm

How Did The Ancient Egyptians Celebrate New Years?

The procession during the Feast of Opet

Ancient Egyptians actually celebrated their equivalent to New Years, the Feast of Opet, around the middle of June. During this time of year, the Nile River usually overflowed its banks. As a result, the people were not able to work but instead were able to take part in this multi-day celebration! The traditions of the Feast of Opet consisted of statues of the god Amon with his wife and son taken by boat in a procession down the Nile from the Mosque of Abu-el-Haggag in Karnak to Luxor. When the statues would arrive in Luxor, people would give offerings of food and drink and then start the singing, dancing and feasting for 24 days. The statues would then be returned back to the Mosque in Karnak.