In Photos: Egyptians Celebrate Coptic Christmas

Egyptian worshippers celebrate Coptic Orthodox Christmas Eve Mass in the Church of Saint Samaan the Tanner, Cairo, Jan. 6, 2022. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The capital city's iconic Cairo Tower is illuminated in red with the words "Merry Christmas" in Arabic and offset in green, Dec. 31, 2021. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Party supply stores across Cairo tell VOA they saw increased numbers of Muslim customers buying Christmas decorations this holiday season, Jan. 4, 2022. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Women dance with a man in a Santa Claus costume during a Christmas-themed performance in a historic neighborhood of Islamic Cairo, Dec. 31, 2021. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Newlyweds Amr and Nariman dance at their wedding in Alexandria, Dec. 25, 2021. "The birth of Jesus is now the birth of our new life together," Amr tells VOA, referring to the Muslim couple's decision to marry on Christmas Day. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The Vatican ambassador to Egypt raises a statute of baby Jesus during Christmas Eve Mass for Roman Catholics in Cairo, Dec 24, 2021. Most Egyptian Christians are Coptic, who celebrate Christmas on January 7. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Each year, Amal Djibi, center, and loved ones celebrate her birthday with a Christmas-inspired dinner and gift exchange at their home in Cairo, Dec. 29, 2021. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Mostafa and his pet monkey Fattouta promote a Christmas-themed party in his downtown Cairo cafe, Dec. 31, 2021. "I'm a Muslim, just like most of our customers tonight," he tells VOA, "and we're all celebrating the holidays." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

"I used to celebrate Christmas with my coworkers, so this year I set up a tree at home for my family, and we gave gifts to each other," says Alaa Saeed, a writer from a Muslim family, in Cairo, Jan. 4, 2022. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

"It made my day when Shabaan, a Muslim colleague, sent me Christmas wishes ... it felt special," says Osama Fanous, a Coptic Orthodox Christian, in Cairo, Jan. 6, 2022. (H. Elrasam/VOA)