Happy Easter! Happy Sham El Nessim!

“Sham El Nessim”, which translates to “Smelling the Breeze”, is a national holiday in Egypt.  It falls on the Monday following the Coptic Easter.  Some tell you that this celebration dates back to the time of the Pharaohs. The family rituals for this holiday are lovely and easy: pack up a picnic, go out to a park, a hangout along the Nile, or a nearby beach, and enjoy the spring season.

At home, the first thing my mom did was to open all the windows and the shutters. We had a couple of Jasmine trees outside mom’s bedroom windows. At this time of the year, they were ready to celebrate with us.  They were full of jasmine flowers with the most sensual smell.  She used to call us into her room and ask us to “smell the breeze.”  She did that every year.  I would smell the scent of the jasmine and right away, my heart and my face had the biggest happiest smile.

This holiday’s feast is served at breakfast.  Everyone gathers around a table where colored eggs are served and many fish dishes are available to the daring!  Typically, one or more of the following fish dishes are served:  fermented grey mullet, salted sardines & smoked herring.  This meal is not complete without a big plate of herbs such as chives, greens such as arugula or lettuce, green onions, cucumbers and lots of lime and bread to enjoy with your favorite fish.  For drinks, it’s typical to serve black tea, lemonade or a lemon soda. Any of those drinks is believed to be a thirst quencher and it’s much needed with those seafood salads.

Hope you try out the Smoked Herring Salad.  All my best friends now make it and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too.