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Culture
Home » Egypt » Egypt - The People and the Culture » CultureWithin Egypt you will see a mixture of cultures blending together which range from Mediterranean and Arabic origins and this is what makes a visit to this great country so unique.
• Painting has been one of the biggest aspect of the arts and from many centuries ago just by looking at the pictorial depictions on the walls of the Giza pyramids you will be able to see a love of painting which can been carried through the modern day world and is still one of the most important factors for the Egyptian population. If you love the art that is on offer then you will be able to find many local bazaars throughout the country where a great piece of art or pottery can be purchased and you can be certain that time and effort would have gone into creating various work.
Another important element that is commonly practised throughout the area and one that you will definitely see whilst on holiday is perhaps the most important factor to locals – music and dancing.
• Belly dancing in Egypt is the most common forms of creative expression you will come across and it is said that many centuries ago this traditional Egyptian dance was founded and still continues today. The dance has been given many names over the years and more frequently known as Raqa al Sharqi (Oriental Dance). It is an acquired art form and belly dancing is suitable for women of all ages, the Oriental dance has been officially dated back to the age of the first pyramids and today it continues to be a popular tradition in which locals and tourists can enjoy themselves and try something that the history has relished for many centuries. You will find that apart from used for entertainment purposes, it is a regular sight at weddings because as the locals know it to be a very lively yet fun loving dance, it is more common at any kind of family celebration.
• Music – The music over the years has changed several times over but when you visit the country today, you will find a wide variety of history and overall easy listening. The first instruments date back to around 4000 B.C. which comprised on harps and flutes and in a space of 2,000 years; there were whole orchestras with clarinets and percussion instruments. Modern day music comprises of Turkish and Arabic mixture the music is known to produce strong beats and great rhythm which makes it very memorable and certainly enjoyable and similar to African Tribal music that you may have come across before. There is a certain amount of religious music within the area and in the Muslim tradition the celebration mulids is held in one of the local mosques and as part of the Sufi Zikr ritual a flute called the Ney is commonly played.
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