Egyptian Theme Ideas

The key to pulling off a coordinated event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair. Whether that theme is as general as a season or a feeling, or as specific as a special flower, it should be the subtle thread that ties everything together. Your location, invitations, flowers, menu, cake, and favors should all cleverly reflect one common concept. Then, get as creative as you can!

Slogans:

"Romance Down the Nile"
"Midnight at the Oasis"
"Arabian Nights"
"Egyptian Allure"

Set the stage for your Egyptian Party, right from the start. Feature authentic architecture and rich metallic detailing that even Pharaoh couldn’t resist.

Invitations Ideas:

Make invitations out of black paper or card stock. Cut gold triangles out of metallic foil paper & glue onto the front to look like golden pyramids. Dot glue on the black part of the card then sprinkle with gold glitter to make stars above the pyramids. Write party details inside: where, when, what time. Let guest know that the Wadjet (the snake guardian of the pharaoh's tomb) will only admit those dressed as ancient Egyptians.

Use Egyptian photos on your invitations.

Make name tags on the computer. You might pretend to be expedition teams from various museum groups. Use printed titles like: Queen Nefertiti Jewel Museum, Snake and Serpent Research Center, Egyptian Gold Coin Museum, Egyptian Mummy Museum, Pyramid Geological Research Team, then the person's name.

Egyptian Motif:

The motif is the visual representation of your theme, which is created by the use of objects or symbols. If you use an "Egyptian" theme you may want to incorporate the use of Uraeus the serpent emblem found in Egyptian portrayals of Royalty and Deity. The mathematical symbol for infinity. The Horus, the falcon God of the Egyptians, in his solar aspect. The Ba-bird, which symbolizes someone's personality (soul) or the Eye of Ra or Eye of Horus which represents the right eye of the Egyptian Falcon God Horus, it represented the sun, and was associated with the Sun God Ra (Re). These symbols may be repeated on your invitations, program, plates, or decorations. Sometimes the use of several different symbols will be used as components of the theme.

Developing your Egyptian Theme:

Develop your motif using a list of words related to the theme. Brainstorm a list to create your pool of ideas. This list is very important for generating ideas that can be applied to all areas of the event. An "Egyptian" theme may suggest words like:

Pyramids
Palm Trees
Desert
Oasis
Nile
Lotus Columns
Sconces
Sphinx (The male sphinx traditionally exemplified the power and strength of the pharaoh and was one of the most important motifs throughout Egyptian history)
Cobra
Blue Egyptian Water Lily
Sarcophagus
Mummy
Tombs
Tents
Hieroglyphics
Uraeus (The cobra is an emblem)
Caravans
Camels
Sunset
Sculptures (Pharaoh's Heads, Hathor Heads, Winged Scarabs, Winged Solar Disk & etc.)
Papyrus
Egyptian Gods
Ancient Egyptian Myths and Legends
Valley of the Kings
Pharaoh's (King Tut)
Queens (Cleopatra Queen Of The
Nile)
Wall Reliefs of the Anubis
Priest
Golden Horus and Hathor Head
Gold Snake Asp Arm Bands
Feathered fans
Grapes
Treasure
Harem Girls and Belly Dancers

Colors:

You'll want to select a color scheme that you will use throughout the theme. Two or three colors work well. Colors will make a big impact so be sure they are ones that will complement your theme.

In ancient Egypt, color was an integral part of the substance and being of everything in life. The color of something was a clue to the substance or heart of the matter. When it was said that one could not know the color of the gods, it meant that they themselves were unknowable, and could never be completely understood. In art, colors were clues to the nature of the beings depicted in the work. For instance, when Amon was portrayed with blue skin, it alluded to his cosmic aspect. Osiris' green skin was a reference to his power over vegetation and to his own resurrection.

The Egyptian artist had at his disposal six colors (green, red, yellow, blue, black and white).

The color green (wadj) was the color of vegetation and new life. To do "green things" was slang for beneficial, life-producing behavior.

Red (desher) was the color of life and of victory. During celebrations, ancient Egyptians would paint their bodies with red ochre and would wear amulets made of cornelian, a deep red stone. Red was also a symbol of anger and fire.

The color yellow (khenet, kenit) Both the sun and gold were yellow and shared the qualities of being imperishable, eternal and indestructible. Thus anything portrayed as yellow in Egyptian art generally carried this connotation.

Blue was symbolic of the sky and of water. In a cosmic sense, this extended its symbolism to the heavens and of the primeval floods. In both of these cases, blue took on a meaning of life and re-birth. Blue was naturally also a symbol of the Nile and its associated crops, offerings and fertility.

Black (kem) was a symbol of death and of the night.

The color white (hedj and shesep) suggested omnipotence and purity. Due to its lack of color white was also the color of simple and sacred things.

Mood:

Decide on what atmosphere or mood you want to create. This is where you want to refer back to your list of words you brainstormed. Add words to the list that will portray your mood. Create a feel and a mood that is uniform throughout.

Use Gothic lettering on your programs or invitations.

Use lots of Candles for mood lighting.

Texture:

Incorporating texture will make things look and feel interesting. Using textures will amplify the atmosphere you are creating.

For an Egyptian theme you could use sand, silks, satins, velvet, Old papyrus background texture, colorful silk scarves decorated with metal coins or beads for belly dancers.

You may include rich heavy brocades and velvet or sheer silk fabrics.

Egyptian Art motif ceramic tiles make excellent additions to the top of a bar.

Scrolls for programs or thank you notes.

Decorating Items:

Rent Palm Trees or use Lighted Palm Trees and place around your party area, use real sand to create an Oasis or use Solid Color Gossamer to represent sand. Add the water of the Nile with blue water gossamer running through the sand.

Grapevines, oil-burning lamps, and Gold Ivy Garland will add an instant Egyptian feel to the room!

Think mood lighting - candles, candles, and more Candles. As long as there are no small children around, fill tables with various sized candles and keep them lit throughout the evening. Floating candles look absolutely lovely. Place a glass bowl, or several different sized wineglasses filled with water on a mirror. Add small candles, and enjoy the romantic effect they produce.

Tents draped in bright colored fabrics (tulle, organza, silk, satin). An affordable alterative is to drape your ceiling with gossamer. Use Solid Color Gossamer to create a fabulous tented ceiling or to cover a wall. Drape it across ceilings, columns, doors and walls to achieve a surprisingly new decorating effect.

Use fabric remnants in gold, white, purple, green to make throw pillows, trim in gold. Make some large enough for people to sit on and serve your meal on a low table with lots of pillows.

If you are having an upscale event linen tablecloths, china and flatware.

If you are having a casual party, make your own partyware using the instructions on our Design a Party page. If you do not want to make partyware, then we suggest using Gold Metallic Paper Goods.

Give a sophisticated and festive look to your chairs with exquisite gold accent beads.

Add a rich touch to your Egyptian table with table runners featuring beaded accents and a lush tassel.

Make a pyramid out of PVC pipe and cut a slit in it so guests can step into the past (so to speak). Inside place a mummy, snakes, treasure & etc.

Drape Gold Ivy Garland along the edges of all your tables. This will add an easy and authentic Egyptian feel to your party room!

Display pictures in a Photo Pyramid.

Hang Egyptian posters of caravans, ancient gods, and camels & etc.

Hang die-cut, artificial or real Vines everywhere.

Entertainment:

Dancing

Dance was far more than just an enjoyable pastime in Ancient Egypt. During the Pre-Dynastic period were found depictions of female figures, perhaps of Goddesses or Priestesses, dancing with their arms raised above their heads. The act of dancing was undoubtedly an important component of ritual and celebration in Ancient Egypt. People from every social class were exposed to music and dancing. Manual laborers worked in rhythmic motion to the sounds of songs and percussion, and street dancers entertained passers by. In normal, daily life musicians and dancers were an important and integral part of banquets and celebrations. Elizabeth 'Artemis' Mourat, professional dancer and dance-scholar categorized the dances of Ancient Egypt into six types: religious dances, non-religious festival dances, banquet dances, harem dances, combat dances, and street dances. Men and women are never shown dancing together, and the most common scenes depict groups of female dancers often performing in pairs.

Belly Dancers - Hire belly dancers to provide the entertainment.

Rent a Camel

Hire a Harpist or other musicians - Musicians connected with the royal household were held in high esteem, as were certain gifted singers and harp players. Somewhat lower on the social scale were musicians who acted as entertainers for parties and festivals, frequently accompanied by dancers.

All the major categories of musical instruments percussion, wind and stringed were represented in pharaonic Egypt.
Percussion instruments:
1) Hand-held drums
2) castanets
3) Bells - first used during the Late Kingdom
4) The sistrum - important rattle used in religious worship
5) cymbals - used in temples in the Ptolemaic Period

Wind instruments:
1) Ugab - a vertical flute among first musical instruments used
2) Hasosra - a trumpet
3) Shofar - a ram's or goat's horn

Stringed instruments:
1) Kinnor a lyre similar to the kithara
2) Harps - developed from hunting bows in the Old Kingdom
3) Lutes - plucked rather than bowed

Instruments were frequently inscribed with the name of the owner and decorated with representations of the goddess Hathor of music

Game Ideas:

Board games were very common in ancient Egypt and people from all levels of society played them. Many game boards from ancient Egypt have been found by archaeologists. However, the rules explaining how to play these games have not survived. Set out various board games and let guests have some fun.

Mummy Wrap
Wrap your team leader in toilet paper (kind of like a mummy).

Locate the Missing Treasure
Place a grouping of trinkets on a tray. Let guests study it. Then take away several items and have them guess what is missing.

Have a Treasure Hunt

Mesh:
Use color, theme, mood to communicate the message....the emotions, the spirit of the event. Again apply the theme, mood, color, texture to mesh your theme throughout your overall event.

Food:

Ask your caterer for suggestions.

Babylonian royals were partial to truffles wrapped in papyrus and roasted in ashes. The chefs of Egyptian pharaohs embellished dishes with them. They won rave reviews from the likes of Pythagoras and Theophrastus.

A delicious portion of falafels served on top of a pita bread with hummus, lettuce, tomato, red onions, and a side of turnips pickled in beet roots.

Falafel Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup dried fava beans
1/2 large onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2-1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper
4 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon baking powder
4-6 tablespoons flour
Soybean or vegetable oil for frying
Chopped tomato for garnish
Diced onion for garnish
Diced green bell pepper for garnish
Tahina sauce
Pita bread

1. Put the fava beans in a large bowl and add enough cold water to cover them by at least 2 inches. Let soak overnight, then drain. Or use canned fava beans, drained.

2. Place the drained, uncooked fava beans and the onions in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the parsley, salt, hot pepper, garlic, and cumin. Process until blended but not pureed.

3. Sprinkle in the baking powder and 4 tablespoons of the flour, and pulse. You want to add enough bulgur or flour so that the dough forms a small ball and no longer sticks to your hands. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for several hours.

4. Form the fava beans mixture into balls about the size of walnuts, or use a falafel scoop, available in Middle-Eastern markets.

5. Heat 3 inches of oil to 375 degrees in a deep pot or wok and fry 1 ball to test. If it falls apart, add a little flour. Then fry about 6 balls at once for a few minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Stuff half a pita with falafel balls, chopped tomatoes, onion, green pepper, and pickled turnips. Drizzle with tahina thinned with water.

NOTE: You can substitute chickpeas or garbanzo beans for the fava beans.

Theme Parties N More is a wedding & event planning company located in Cypress, TX. We are also a wedding & event florist. Our party & wedding planners have put this website together to provide our visitors with ideas for planning their events, this includes links to products that can help you to make your event extra special. In accordance with the FTC Guidelines we are disclosing that some of the vendors that we link you to, pay us a commission when you purchase products from them, but some of the vendors do not provide us with any compensation.

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