Sham Ennessim (Arabic: شم النسيم, Sham Al Nassim or Sham an-Nassim; Egyptian Arabic: Sham Ennesim, IPA: [ˈʃæmm ennɪˈsiːm]) is a festival marking the beginning of spring, celebrated by Egyptians of all religions. It is an official public holiday in Egypt. Sham Ennessim always falls on Easter Monday, which is the day after Easter, in accordance with the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Arabic name Sham Ennesim translates into "Smelling/Taking In the Zephyrs".
The festival is characterized by a number of traditional practices. Egyptians typically spend the entire day outdoors, engaging in picnics in public gardens, green spaces, along the Nile, or at the zoo. The customary foods consumed on this occasion include fesikh, a fermented, salted, and dried grey mullet, along with lettuce, green onions, and lupin beans. A widespread tradition associated with the festival is the coloring of boiled eggs, which are subsequently eaten or exchanged as gifts.
