As night falls on February 13, shops around Egypt gear up to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. From offers on fancy brands to young men selling dusty red balloons on street corners, the colour red decks many malls and billboards. But while there is still some enthusiasm for the occasion on the ground, this year there has been a noticed shift. The interest in Valentine’s Day has moved mostly online. As a Western holiday that has only recently entered Egyptian culture, perhaps this shift tells us that those most likely to celebrate Valentine’s Day are the ones that spend a lot of their time online.
Street sellers carry balloons to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Photo courtesy of Amina Zaineldine.
A romantic walk through a street lined with cafés and restaurants. Photo courtesy of Amina Zaineldine.
Nola Cupcakes takes a 21st century tone in its Valentine’s Day decorations. Photo Courtesy of Amina Zaineldine.
Red decorations deck the shops of Cairo for Valentine’s Day. Photo courtesy of Amina Zaineldine.
An archway for couples to take photographs in at a Cairo mall. Photo courtesy of Amina Zaineldine.
Chocolate shops decorate their windows for Valentine’s Day shoppers. Photo courtesy of Amina Zaineldine.
Chocolates are among the most popular gift ideas for Valentine’s Day.
What with globalization pushing Western holidays into the foreground, many forget that Egypt has its own day celebrating love, which is November 4th, and often unfortunately overlooked by businesses around the country.
* This article was originally published here
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