Popyrus|Cinema&Art
Celebrating the newborn week is a
custom carried out by families seven days after birth. They celebrate by
distributing sweets and singing songs with specific lyrics and other elements to
express joy. But have we ever stopped to consider where this custom originated?
Is it a tradition invented by our ancestors or a custom inherited from our
ancient Egyptian roots?
Ancient Meanings in Newborn
Celebrations
Quoted from the official website of the General Authority for Inquiries, The Sebou' (week of a newborn) is an ancient Egyptian ritual, originally used to celebrate the birth of a newborn. This tradition distinguished Egypt from other countries. The story stems from the fact that during that period, the infant mortality rate was high, and therefore, a newborn who lived to the seventh day was considered lucky. Hence, they initiated the celebration, naming it the Sebou (week).
Horus, son of the goddess Isis, was the first to hold a weekday celebration for himself, according to what was found in the Temple of Philae in Aswan. There are columns at the entrance to the temple, and on top of each column, there is a sculpture of Horus, depicting the expressions on his face from the first day of his birth to the seventh day.
The ancient Egyptians associated seven types of grains with the newborn on the seventh night (wheat, beans, chickpeas, lentils, barley, rice, and fenugreek). These were mostly the grains that prevailed in ancient times and were a symbol of goodness and growth. These grains were ground in a mortar and sprinkled on the newborn on the seventh night in the belief that they would spread goodness and growth to those around him throughout his life.
The ancient Egyptians also associated, and still do, the practice of sprinkling salt seven times on the child and everyone around him and in the house, believing that salt prevents evil and envy.
The Egyptians used (pot) for girls,
meaning a vessel into which water is poured. In other words, the girl is the
vessel of the future, the burden of life, and a symbol of fertility and the
continuity of life, calling for her to bear sons and daughters. The use of the pot
for boys symbolizes the tool used to pour water into the stream of life,
meaning the one who places life in the female for its continuity and
reproduction.
Echoes of Ancient Rituals
During the seventh day ceremony, the newborn was placed in a properly decorated sieve, and they repeat words like: “Listen to your mother, don’t listen to your father,” in addition to hanging a “gold ring” in the newborn’s ear, repeating: “A gold ring in your ears.” This ring is called the ring of the goddess “Isis,” the mother of the god “Horus.” They whisper in the newborn’s ear to obey the god, so that this is the first thing his ears hear.
Quoted from the official page of the Ministry of Culture, the Egyptians associated the use of the sieve as a tool for purifying grains from impurities. Therefore, it was used during the week of the month in the belief that it would purify the child from corrupt and bad things from his birth, and that the newborn would remain good and beneficial, in good health and well-being.
Our Egyptian customs are linked and continue to this day with the mother stepping 7 times over the child while he is in the sieve, believing that each time she wards off evil from him, in connection with what Isis did with the newborn of a peasant woman to get rid of the scorpion’s poison. Since scorpions have 7 names and each scorpion has a deadly poison, from here came the seven steps, and each time Isis would mention the name of the scorpion secretly and pray to get rid of its poison and evil, knowing that Queen Isis knew the names of scorpions and their poisons.
They pray to the god to protect the newborn and grant him a long life. The ceremony usually begins with the beating of the mortar in the form of melodies to welcome the newborn on his seventh day.
The pounding of the copper mortar was associated with the chanting of some songs and words next to the child's ear, which included instructions to obey parents and many other phrases. Usually, these words were a way of instilling good morals in the child's ears from the time of birth, based on the belief that the child's sense of hearing begins from the seventh day, and the pounding of the mortar itself was a tool for alerting the child to what was being said.
The seventh day bath with angel water, here the ancient Egyptians would immerse the newborn in the pure waters of the temple (the waters of the holy lake), where the priest would recite religious verses, prayers, and spells to bless the newborn and ward off evil and envy. One of the most famous newborn baths is the bath of Queen Cleopatra's son, where he was baptized and purified in the style of ancient Egyptian rituals in the Temple of Dendera.
It is worth noting that in some modern rural areas, the newborn's grandmother or the eldest woman in the family immerses the newborn in a small pool filled with Nile water and recites prayers over him to bring blessings, goodness, and health to the newborn. Even in our current era in the city, the newborn bath is done at home on the night of the seventh day.
The ancient Egyptians revered the number seven and believed it was the number of goodness, peace, health, and life, which led to celebratory displays for the newborn on the seventh day. This was linked to some customs such as sprinkling salt seven times, the mother stepping over the newborn seven times, using seven grains (beans, rice, wheat, lupin, corn, etc.), as well as seven candles with seven names, and pounding the copper mortar seven times.
It's worth noting that the newborn's
name was chosen on the seventh day. Ancient Egyptians gave newborns seven
nicknames, and this was limited to the royal family.
Customs associated with the weekday
celebration:
• Drinking "Mughat", it is a natural product made from the roots and leaves of the Mughat plant, found in some Arab and Asian countries.
• Offering gifts and
money to the newborn
• Presenting a weekday bag (a bag of
sweets) to children and adults, containing a candle, sweets, peanuts, popcorn,
chocolate, and a note with the newborn's name on it.
• Offering a sacrifice for the child, called an "aqeeqah."
One of the ancient rituals used by the ancient Egyptians to protect the newborn from birth, as he was exposed to death at any moment. It was believed that the veil was a symbol of protection. The word veil is of Egyptian Pharaonic origin, made up of two syllables, Hajj and Ab. Hajj, with a dotted g, was given by the ancient Egyptians to their rituals in the Abydos Temple, the birthplace of the god Osiris. The meaning of the word Hajj is “purification, purity, and clarity.” Therefore, the color of the pilgrim’s clothing was associated with white, and the color of the veil was associated with the color of the white cloth. The second syllable, Ab, meant “heart” in ancient Egyptian. Therefore, the word Hajj Ab (veil) means “purity of heart.” This is where the Egyptians believed that the veil purifies the heart of the newborn.
Lighting 7 candles during the newborn’s procession on the seventh day is an ancient ritual, as it was a symbol of the seven angels, and the goddess Hathor (Mother of Light) represented the sun in 7 ways. From here came the ritual of lighting 7 candles, as the candlelight is the closest expression of the light of the sun.
Sebou' on the Silver Screen
The Grandson (Al Hafed) is one of the most prominent Egyptian films that beautifully depicts Egyptian heritage and culture, particularly family customs, including the celebration of a newborn, or "sebou." Produced in 1974, the film was directed by Atef Salem and starred a group of prominent Egyptian cinema stars, including Nour El-Sherif, Karima Mokhtar, Abdel Moneim Madbouly, and Mervat Amin.
The film revolves around the traditional Egyptian family, portrayed through the character of the father, who tries to balance his children's personal lives while facing various challenges related to marriage and childbirth. One of the most prominent scenes in the film is the sebou scene, which demonstrates Egyptians' attachment to this traditional custom, which expresses joy for a newborn through a festive atmosphere that includes singing, gifts, and a warm family atmosphere.
"Ya Rabb Walad" is one of the Egyptian comedy films that left a clear mark on Egyptian cinema. It combines humor with warm family situations that reflect Egyptian heritage and culture, especially regarding family and newborn celebrations. Produced in 1984, the film was directed by Omar Abdel Aziz and stars a group of prominent stars, including Samir Ghanem, Esaad Younis, Dalal Abdel Aziz, Farid Shawqi, Hassan Mostafa, and Hala Fouad.
The film revolves around the head of the family, Hassan (Farid Shawqi), who feels frustrated because he only has daughters and no son to carry his name, a common belief in many old Egyptian families. As the story unfolds, his perspective changes when he begins to deal with his daughters' husbands, who are trying to prove they can handle the responsibility. Amid these situations, the seven-day celebration appears as part of the celebratory nature of children in Egyptian culture. A special celebration is held for the newborn amidst distinctive traditional rituals, such as drumming and folk singing.
The film is
a wonderful example of how Egyptian cinema showcases authentic family customs
and traditions, conveying humorously and emotionally the Egyptian family in all
its details, from family values and relationships to the ceremonial rituals
that accompany the birth of a child. Thanks to its unique blend of comedy and
nostalgia for ancient Egyptian customs, "Ya Rabb Walad" is still a
joy to watch today.
The Egyptian film E'yaal Habeebah (Lover Boys) is a comedy that beautifully captures the essence of Egyptian traditions, particularly the Sebou ceremony, which celebrates the birth of a newborn. The film, directed by Magdy El Hawary and starring Hamada Helal, Ghada Adel, and Hassan Hosny, blends humor with cultural authenticity, making it a beloved choice among audiences.
One of the film’s standout features is its portrayal of the Sebou rituals, which are deeply rooted in Egyptian heritage. The movie showcases the customary practices, such as placing the baby in a decorated sieve, singing traditional songs, and performing symbolic gestures to bring good fortune. These scenes are depicted in a joyful adding comedic elements while preserving the authenticity of the celebration. By highlighting these customs in a positive light, the film reinforces the importance of family unity and cultural continuity.
Beyond its entertainment value, E'yaal Habeebah serves as a tribute to Egyptian traditions, ensuring that younger generations remain connected to their heritage. The film’s vibrant depiction of *Sebouh* not only educates viewers about these customs but also fosters appreciation for the rich cultural tapestry of Egypt. Through its engaging narrative and humorous approach, E'yaal Habeebah successfully balances comedy with tradition, making it a memorable film that celebrates Egyptian identity.
The ancient Egyptians were creative in their rituals and worship, respecting and performing them from the heart and in the best way, and they recorded them with the creativity of the artist on the murals in our temples until now. These rituals and customs were passed down from generation to generation, and we may not have known their reasons before, but now the situation is different only we are the descendants of a civilization that dazzled the world in all fields.