Feasts

== = = =Food was an important part of Egyptian life. Most of the common people ate bread and drank beer. Poor people did enjoy feasts on holidays or royal occassions such as the crowning of the pharoh or religious festivals.= =Wealthy people would have good feasts and invited many guests. The guests would sit around low tables and eat with their fingers. After the feast servants would bring water to wash their hands. There was entertainment like dancers, storytellers, and musical instruments.= = = =Thousands of years ago, ancient Egyptians left evidence of their love for food.The Feast of Weeks, marking the end of the grain harvest, took place in late May or early June. The Feast of Booths (Succoth) held in the early fall, celebrated the grape harvest and commemorated Israel's wandering in the wilderness. Other religious festivals included the Feast of the New Moon, which marked the first day of each month; the Feast of Purim, celebrating the deliverance of the Jews by Esther and Mordecai. These festivals often had a joyous, carnival-like atmosphere, with much merriment and feasting.= = = =The Day of Atonement was a time of repentance and expiation for the sins of the nation of Israel. No food was eaten, no liquid drunk and no pleasures indulged in that day.= =The ancient Egyptians had many festivals, but one of their largest was //Moulid-el-Nabi//, which is still celebrated today in present-day Egypt. The ancient Egyptians baked animal-shaped= =cakes to give to the temple.= = = =They then fasted. To break their fast, they held huge banquets with the best food around. Everyone ate until they were content. The ancient Egyptians loved feasts because everyone was happy and jolly.=