Kahk is an important part of Egyptian and Sudanese culture. In addition to its role in Eid, when it is often served to guests, it is also eaten as part of a wedding feast and is occasionally served at other holiday feasts, namely Mawlid. Baking kahk is a traditional and social activity in the region: women of a village or neighborhood, gather together to bake kahk, chat, and swap stories and recipes. Sometimes, Egyptians will prepare their kahk at home before taking it to a communal or commercial bakery to be baked and cooled. Families typically exchange kahk as gifts, and friendly informal competitions over whose kahk is best are common. The designs stamped on kahk can be elaborate and are sources of pride for Egyptian families. Kahk molds, typically made from wood or ceramic, are often passed down from generation to generation. While bakeries have always sold premade kahk, buying kahk from a bakery has increased in popularity in urban Egypt in recent years. However, store-bought kahk is relatively expensive—reaching £E70 (US$12.69) per kilo in 2009—so many Egyptians, particularly those in rural areas, still bake their own.
