CELEBRATIONS

Festivals in Ancient Egypt
There was nothing better than breaking the routine of life with a festival for the ancient Egyptians , Religious or political, festivals allowed both rich and poor to put away their cares for a day or two, and sometimes longer, to celebrate the best of ancient Egypt.

 The New Year Festival.
The Ancient Egyptian New Year is one of the most sacred festivals in the calendar.
celebration of the Goddess Hathor and Her son Ihy

Occurring within the first month of the new year this is a celebration of the Goddess Hathor and Her son Ihy. This is a festival of exuberance, joy and passion.
 Festival of Inebriation.
The Mysteries of Isis and Osiris
During the fourth month of the year were celebrated through a series of elaborate rituals.

 The Navigation of the Goddess
This festival, normally celebrated over several days, occurs near the time of the Winter Solstice and represents the journey of Sekhmet, as the Eye of Ra, to the southern lands. In this module the Legend of the Distant Goddess forms the basis of the festival rite. Through this rite the Sun, representing the Eye of Ra, is seen as turning and beginning its annual journey to the north. In this way Sekhmet begins Her transformation back into the beautiful Goddess Hathor .

 Festival of Neith - Mother of the Gods
Neith is one of the oldest and most revered Goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon. This festival, occurring in the fifth month of the year recognizes this Goddess as the personification of the ancient waters from which creation arose.
 The Birth of Ihy
This is a celebration of the birth of Ihy, the son of Hathor and Horus the ElderHeru-Ur. Using a variety of sacred writings from the temple of Dendera as well as the Coffin Texts,
 Candle Feast of Hathor
During the entire month of Hnt-htj (in the late period this month was called Payni) a sacred flame, in the form of a candle was kept burning as part of the rituals dedicated to Hathor.
 Festival of the Beautiful Embrace
Also known as the "Reunion of Hathor and Horus/Heru" as well as "She is Lead Back" this is by far one the most beautiful and important festivals in the entire Egyptian calendar. Extending over a two week period, this festival celebrates the voyage of Hathor to visit Her lover Horus. During this festival the two lovers conceive their son Ihy. Using in depth ancient temple inscriptions

 The Five Days Upon the Year
During the five days between the ending of one "civil" year and the beginning of another five of the most important Neteru were born: Osiris, Horus-the-Elder, Set, Isis and Nephthys.

Feast of Wagy
Seventeen days after New Year's day,

 The Festival of Opet

Centered in Thebes, this boisterous festival, known as the Beautiful Feast of the Opet, held in the second civil month and was set according to a lunar calendar. It was perhaps not as old a celebration as some of the other feasts, though during the New Kingdom particularly, the celebration of Opet was predominate. Its duration of twenty-seven days in the 20th Dynasty shows how significant the celebration became. However, we know virtually nothing about the celebration prior to the 18th Dynasty and the rise of Thebes.