Fascinating traditions from ancient Egypt

Having trouble styling your hair?

Hair styling wasn’t of a big problem for the ancient Egyptians because they used hair wigs, adorned with floral garlands, ribbons and beads. Wigs weren’t only pretty looking but also provided protection from the sun heat and insects. When not using wigs, commoner males wore their hair short.

Only priests were strictly forbidden from wearing these wigs because it was believed that  hair attracts impurities. They had to always keep their heads shaved bald, while servants fastened their hair at the back of their neck.

As for kids, boys shaved their entire head except for one braided lock that was usually hanging at the left side, while girls kept their hair in a pigtail or ponytail.

“With this ring I thee wed”

Ancient Egyptians were the first to exchange wedding rings, they considered the circle to be a symbol of eternity “signifying the eternal love of a married couple”, they were also the first to wear the wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand as they believed that this finger is connected to the heart  by a special vein “vina amores”.

Here comes the spring

Ancient Egyptians loved the spring as it was season of the harvest. They held an annual festival for celebrating this season, where they went on picnics eating salted fermented fish, lettuce and onion. They named this season (shemu). Egyptians still celebrate this festival today only that it is now know as "Sham el Nessim".

Is it a girl or boy?

Ancient Egyptian used an odd method to determine the gender of the unborn baby, the mother would pass water over barley and wheat seeds, if the wheat grew first the baby would likely be a girl, if the barley grew first it would likely be a boy, if neither the barley nor the wheat grew, the woman was not pregnant.

Music and dance

Ancient Egyptians valued the music and dancing, they were essential part of ceremonies and festivals and even their daily life. Love songs were popular, they enjoyed listening to music while their meals were being prepared and they also played clappers during childbirth.

"Ihy" the son of "Het-Heru",was the god of music and dancing he was depicted as a young child playing a music instrument.

Sistrum, harps, lutes, drums, tambourines, and clappers were the most common music instruments used by ancient Egyptians.