Flooding of the Nile

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Flooding of the Nile is an important cycle in Egypt. It is celebrated by Egyptians today as an annual holiday for two weeks starting August 15, known as Wafaa El-Nil. It is also celebrated in the Coptic Church by ceremonially throwing a martyr's relic into the river. Hence the name Esba` al-shahīd (the martyr's finger).

The three stages of the Egyptian flood cycle are Akhet, the time of the Nile flood, Peret, the sowing time, and Shemu, the time of harvest. The flood cycle was so predictable that the Egyptians even based their ancient calendar on it. Akhet was the first season of the year. Peret or the Egyptian Autum season marked the time when crops grew in the fields and were harvested,^[1] running from October to mid-February. Shemu was the third and last season of the Egyptian year which ran from mid-February until the end of May; it essentially signalled the spring season of the Egyptian calendar.^[2]

[edit] See also

• Holidays in Egypt
• the Nile
• Hapy

[edit] References