Sham Al-Nessim is an ancient Egyptian festival that marks the beginning of spring. It is a national holiday when, regardless of social or religious background, people flock to gardens, beaches and open spaces to spend the day with family and friends, colouring eggs and eating renga (smoked herring) and fesikh (salted mullet) with spring onions and leafy vegetables. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, however, the government imposed severe restrictions on movement. Public transport was closed down, and shops, shopping malls, beaches, public parks and gardens were ordered to keep their gates shut on Monday. Amir, 38, is enjoying his time at home with his wife and their two children. The last time he had the chance to stay at home for more than a month was in his early 20s, he says. It was only as Sham Al-Nessim approached that he started to realise how badly coronavirus had affected his social life and that of his family. “It feels like we are handcuffed. We know that the measures are necessary to stop the spread of coronavirus. But I couldn't help thinking about my kids. How can you create memorable experiences for them in these conditions? “When I was a kid we used to spend the whole day with relatives. The day started early in the morning and ended late. This year we cannot do the same for our own children.” Sham Al-Nessim this year passed like any other day, says Amir. For more than a month Amir and his wife have been working from home. “Now we are lucky enough to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together and spend the whole day with our kids. But unfortunately we were unable to give them something special on Sham Al-Nessim.” Noha spent the day with friends in her garden. It is a 10-year-old tradition that she did not want to interrupt, she says. But while her Sham Al-Nessim gatherings in previous years brought together more than 30 people, this year it was limited to 10. Nashwa used to go to the club for a 7am breakfast and to smell the early morning fresh air. “This year clubs are closed and there was nowhere to go,” she says, though she tried to recreate the experience at home with salted fish and the traditional accompaniments. Amir did not even buy salted fish this year. “The most stringent hygiene measures are apparently not enough to protect people from coronavirus,” he said, adding he preferred to stick to home-cooked food. “Amid the protests, curfews and insecurity that followed 2011 we were still able to live normally. I attended weddings and social gatherings back then, and our activities over the holidays carried on as normal,” says Amir. “I only hope things will improve before the end of 2020.”
*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly