Muslims around the world observe the holy month of Ramadan every year. The period commemorates the Prophet Mohammed's inspiration for Islam's holy book, the Quran. The beginning date of Ramadan moves up by 10 days every year. During Ramadan, Muslims reflect, read the entire Quran and are kind and helpful to others.
During the holy month, Egyptian Muslims fast from dawn until dusk when they break their fast with large amounts of food and special dishes including Khushaf, made with apricots, black plums, dates and raisins. Egyptians welcome the season with banners and signs in the streets.
Tourists visiting Egypt can enjoy the Fawanees Ramadan Festival which celebrates the colorful Egyptian lanterns known as fawanees. Egyptians celebrate it on the Nile with decorated boats.
The Sphinx Festival celebrates Egyptian folklore, arts and history. For several days, participants congregate at the Swiss Club Villa in Cairo for seminars on Egyptian dance, music and philosophy. The event is restricted to approximately 60 people in an effort to keep the event intimate. Each evening of the festival features a cultural event and a dinner cruise along the Nile River.
Every October, car racers and motor-cross enthusiasts congregate in the desert for the Pharaoh's Rally. The rally, established more than 25 years ago, is considered second only to the legendary Dakar rally. It is an 11-day motor race across the western Egyptian desert that culminates at the pyramids in Giza. Divided into seven stages, drivers in cars, trucks and bikes cover approximately 1,864 miles. The race takes participants to the Bahariya Oases, where 3,000 golden mummies were once found, into Siwa, home to the historic Ammonites, and to Sitra, a lake in the middle of sandy dunes.
