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Celebrating the Holidays with Integrant: Epiphany and Coptic Christmas
At Integrant, we take pride in recognizing and celebrating the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of our community. A large part of our team celebrates two significant holidays: Coptic Christmas and Epiphany.
These holidays, observed by Coptic Christians, are deeply rooted in tradition and offer meaningful ways to gather with family and reflect on faith.
Our approach ensures that while our employees celebrate these holidays, our clients continue to experience seamless productivity.
Integrant’s Agile environment, along with tools like CodeVoyance, allows our teams the flexibility to adjust their schedules without impacting project timelines. This balance ensures that Coptic Christmas Day and other holidays are celebrated fully without sacrificing productivity.
Christmas in Egypt: What is Epiphany?
Epiphany, celebrated on January 19th, honors the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River and the appearance of the Holy Spirit. For Coptic Christians, Epiphany is a day of feasting and reflection.
What is Coptic Christmas?
Coptic Christmas in Egypt is a national holiday, and the entire country observes this day with reverence and celebration. Families come together to attend the Holy Mass, after which they share meals that can last well into the next day.
Coptic Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, observed on January 7th, following the Coptic Calendar. On Christmas Day in Egypt, families gather to feast, exchange gifts, and enjoy the time together. This celebration is filled with rituals that strengthen both family ties and the faith community.
How to Celebrate the Epiphany
Epiphany
The evening of January 19th is the main event for Epiphany, marked by Holy Mass and large family gatherings afterward. Much like Christmas Eve in Western traditions, families celebrate by attending Mass, followed by a feast.
Coptic Christmas
On Coptic Christmas Day, Egypt comes to a standstill as families across the country take the day off from work to celebrate. The festivities begin the night before with a Midnight Mass that brings the Coptic Christian community together. Afterward, families gather for meals that continue into the next day.
Common Rituals to Celebrating Christmas Day in Egypt
Epiphany
Kolkas(Taro), Sugar Cane, and Oranges
These foods are staples at family gatherings during Epiphany. Kolkas (taro) symbolizes transformation, representing the change from sinful human nature to purity through baptism. Sugar cane and oranges are also enjoyed, especially by children.
Holy Feast Eve and The Feast
The evening is spent at a Holy Mass where the community comes together to celebrate as one. Following the Mass, families return home to host large feasts for everyone to enjoy.
Coptic Christmas
Teaching the Gift of Giving
Coptic Christmas encourages children to practice generosity. Families take this opportunity to teach the importance of giving back to their communities, reinforcing values of compassion and kindness.
Feasts
After the Midnight Mass, families gather to enjoy traditional foods like chicken, turkey, and a variety of sweets, breaking their fast with joy and celebration.
Christmas Trees
Although different from Western traditions, Christmas trees and manger sets are found in many homes during Christmas in Egypt, adding a festive touch to the holiday.
Integrant and Egyptian Holidays
At Integrant, we recognize the importance of cultural diversity and the need to respect different religious holidays. Coptic Christmas and Epiphany are crucial events for our team members in Egypt, and we ensure that they can fully participate in these traditions without compromising on productivity.
Through our Agile mindset, we maintain flexibility during these holidays, allowing team members to adjust their schedules while meeting project deadlines.
An important part of our work-life balance here at Integrant is learning to work with different cultural and religious standards. Integrant is and will remain a safe place for all our clients and employees. We are committed to keeping clients satisfied, deadlines met, and celebrating every holiday with all of our teams!
