Welcome to our city, which is the regional center for the worship of Osiris. In the past, we honored Khenti-amentiu, the jackal god, but now we know that he is also known as Osiris. Every person who can afford to comes to Abydos, at least once in their lifetime, to see our dramatic re-creation of the story of Osiris. We are honored that you have come to participate in our festival.
Contrary to the infidel's view that Osiris is only a god of
death, we celebrate Orsiris as a vegetation god who died and was
reborn. Osiris is so popular among our people that we even predict
that his popularity will eclipse Re's! 
As everyone knows, festivals include public processions, which is the only time the public is able to see the statues of the gods. People line the streets to see the festival, which entertains the people and the gods. The processions include singing, dancing, and pilgrims.
But our festival is even more special. Besides the procession, each year we celebrate Osiris' rebirth. First, we morn his death intensely, and then we rejoice at his rebirth. Come see our religious plays, which re-create his life, death, and rebirth!
After the plays, visit the cenotaphs and tombs that honor our
former kings. In death, our kings become Osiris, and their successors
become Osiris' son, Horus. As only the king receives eternal life,
nobles buried near him hope to share that life in service to him.
Come see where our nobles are buried.
Writing
thousands of years after the fact makes it very easy to make predictions!
Osiris did become more popular than Re by the First Intermediate
Period, according to The Egyptian Kingdoms. Back to
the text.
This is based on
beliefs in the third and fourth dynasties.
Sources:
"Abydos" available at http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/8/0,5716,3478+1+3442,00.html
(If the link does not work, go to http://www.britannica.com and search for "Abydos.")
Casson, Lionel and the editors of Time-Life Books. 1965. Ancient Egypt. New York: Time Inc.
David, Rosalie. 1998. Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt. New York: Facts on File, Inc.
David, A. Rosalie. 1975. The Egyptian Kingdoms. New York: Elsevier Publishing. (In the series, The Making of the Past).
Shafer, Byron E. ed. 1991. Religion in Ancient Egypt. New York: Cornell University Press.
The ankhs come from the Gyptienne font.
Disclaimer: I used any information on Egyptian festivals that did not specifically mention the Middle or New Kingdom. If you can find sources that specifically mention festivals in the Old Kingdom, let me know!
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