Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has set Sunday as an official day off in Egypt in celebration of Moulid El-Nabi, the birth date of the Prophet Muhammad. In a decree, Madbouly said that Sunday will be a paid public holiday for state employees, government institutions, and public sector companies. The announcement comes a few days after the country initially designated Saturday as the official holiday to mark the Prophet's birthday. The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday is on 12 Rabei Al-Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, which falls this year on 9 November. Moulid El-Nabi is a widely celebrated across the Islamic world. In Egypt, dolls and sweets, including horse-shaped candy, are widely sold to commemorate the day. Family gatherings and religious celebrations in mosques are also part of the holiday. The celebration of the holiday in Egypt dates back to the Fatimid era (the 10th to 12th century AD), when moulids, or the birthdays of religious figures, were marked with public festivals and military processions.
