Tag Archives: Upper Egypt

Amulets and Intermediaries in Egypt and Elsewhere, Pt.1: Confronting the Afrit

Posted on 04/06/2012 by

A variety of amulets, charms, and other means of warding off pernicious spirits – as well as propituating the help of benevolent spirits and saints – have been common in Islam, Judaïsme, and Christianity throughout the Middle East, North Africa … Continue reading →

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Posted in Egypt-Recent, Magic, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Easter Season in Egypt, 1834: ‘Smelling the Breeze’, Making Kishk, Eating Colored Eggs & Salted Fish

Posted on 08/04/2012 by

Manners and Customs of The Modern Egyptians, by E. Lane, is a two-volume set filled with lore about Egypt during the author’s time (1834). And although it makes for fascinating reading, the book is now largely ‘put down’ by post-colonial theorists … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cuisine, Egypt-Recent, Food, History-Recent, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More Pig and Pork Stories

Posted on 09/12/2011 by

[First posted July 2009,  Revised 09 December 2011] Pigs have had a contentious history.  To begin with, they usually reside near the bottom of the livestock prestige pyramid, with cattle, horse and camel occupying the higher niches, sheep, goats and poultry found … Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa-General, Agriculture, Burundi, Cuisine, Egypt-Ancient, Egypt-Recent, Environment, History-General, Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika2, Livestock, Middle East, Wild boar | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Comfort Foods – in Egypt

Posted on 10/02/2011 by

Comfort foods in Egypt depend on the region. In urban areas, ful (beans) with ‘aysh balady (country bread) and tourshy (pickles) is a winning sandwich for any time of the day and available in street carts throughout cities. Falafel, fried ful beans with cumin and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Egypt-Ancient, Egypt-Recent, Food, Living here, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Day Sadat was Assassinated & What Followed

Posted on 04/02/2011 by

Reposting with some additions: What may be the demise of Mubarak, with its attendant intrigues, takes me back some 30 years to the assassination of Sadat and arrival on the scene of Mubarak, which I want to talk about here. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Egypt-Recent, Living here, Middle East, War Games | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Mouse becomes Vizier in Ancient Egypt

Posted on 01/02/2011 by

Tales of mice and cats were popular in ancient Egypt, as the following, which would have been copied by students in their exercises. Cartoons of cats and mice were also popular, and appeared throughout Egyptian history. A couple appear in … Continue reading →

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Posted in Egypt-Ancient, Food, History-Ancient, Hyena | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bread-Baking in Egypt, Then and Now

Posted on 14/11/2009 by

Preparing sun bread (aysh al-Shams) in Upper (southern) Egypt.  :…Sometimes we look in upon the poor in their huts while they are at meals. They all eat with their fingers, but I must say that generally their table manners will … Continue reading →

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Posted in Colonialism, Cuisine, Egypt-Recent, Food, History, Middle East, Technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments