Many of the major holidays in Morocco are Muslim
feast days. These joyous affairs are usually celebrated by visiting family
members, enjoying special meals and exchanging gifts.
During Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed eat or
drink from sunrise to sunset for an entire month. This fasting is known
as saum. Eid al-Seghir marks the end of Ramadan. People wear
new clothes, visit the mosque and enjoy feasting together. |
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Eid al-Kebir commemorates Abrahams willingness
to sacrifice his son to God. The day falls during hajj, the season
of the traditional pilgrimage to Mecca. On this special day, some families
slaughter a sheep. Its skin is cured when the feast is finished. Families
keep a third of the meat, give another third to family and friends, and
distribute the final third to the poor.
Moussems are local events that honour
the local marabouts. Celebrations are usually conducted near the
marabouts
tomb. Some moussems are occasions to hold a special market, like
the camel market in Goulimine. Others are festive celebrations that attract
people from other towns. Women may dress in traditional clothing. These
gatherings unite family and friends and some families use the time together
to find a spouse for unmarried children. Everyone dances, sings, eats and
prays together.
Green March Day commemorates the occasion
in 1975 when 350,000 civilian Moroccans, both men and women, marched into
the Western Sahara area to claim it for Morocco. This is seen as an important
demonstration of Moroccan nationalism. Reunification Day celebrates Moroccos
declaration of unity with the Western Sahara in 1979. |
Did you know? |
Religious
holidays follow the Muslim lunar calendar. Each month begins with the new
moon. The holidays therefore do not fall on the same day each year according
to the Western calendar. |
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January 1 |
New Years
Day |
March 3 |
Throne
Day |
May 1 |
Labour
Day |
May 23 |
National
Day |
July 9 |
King Hassan's
Birthday |
August 14 |
Reunification
Day |
November 6 |
Anniversary
of the Green March |
November 18 |
Independence
Day |
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Did you know? |
When
a sheep is to be slaughtered for a holiday feast, it is bought well in
advance, since smaller sheep are cheaper. People keep the sheep for a month
or more to fatten it. In the days before feasts, sheep are often kept tied
up on the rooftops of houses. |
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