Moroccan culture
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Moroccan culture |
LANGUAGE
Alongside classical Arabic, the language of education, administration, and the media, the language of everyday life in Morocco is dialectal Arabic, as well as Tamazight (Berber), spoken in the Rif, the Atlas, and the Souss, and which varies according to the regions. Most Moroccans speak French, many speak Spanish and English.
RELIGION
Islam is the official religion of Morocco, but coexistence with other religions is perfect (the practice of other revealed religions is also guaranteed by the constitution). The day is punctuated by five calls to prayer. It is the muezzin who announces them from the top of his minaret. During the month of Ramadan, Moroccans fast, stop drinking, and smoking from sunrise to sunset. Obviously, their daily lives are modified. Most administrations, utilities, monuments, and shops arrange their schedules. However, non-Muslims find food in some restaurants, especially hotels. The days are dragging but the nights are beautiful!
COOKing
Moroccan cuisine is a sumptuous blend of sun-kissed vegetables and fruit, rare and fragrant spices, delicate fish, and tasty meats ... The best oriental cuisines, renowned around the world, delight your taste buds. Here are the main Moroccan dishes to taste absolutely. Skewers: at the entrance of a souk, on a square, at the edge of a road, delicious kebabs are cooked under your eyes: a feast, economical and fast.Couscous: this is the traditional Friday family lunch, but you will find it every day at the restaurant. During your trip, you can taste a thousand couscous, as it varies by region and the creativity of the cook. Try not to use your cutlery to eat it, but rather your fingers, the Moroccan.Mechoui: lamb roasted on the spit or in the oven. The meat melts in the mouth! Pastilla: a fine puff pastry stuffed with pigeon and almonds: it's the famous Moroccan salty-sweet. There are variations on fish, chicken, and even milk for dessert. Ramadan dishes: at sunset; we break the fast (f'tour) with the rich and tasty harira, meat soup, lentils, chickpeas, with the beghrir, small honeycomb pancakes served with melted butter and honey, shebbakia, cakes fried in oil and coated with honey. This "light" snack allows waiting for the real dinner that takes place later in the night. Tajine: this word refers to both the container (terracotta dish decorated with the typical conical lid) and the contents (stew of meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables stewed). Taste, you will understand why tajine is the Moroccan national dish. Mint tea: it quenches, warms, requinque, is drunk in the morning, after meals, at any time. A pleasure that never refuses.Pastry: honey cakes, gazelle horns, almonds, raisins, ghoriba with almonds, sesame ... Irresistible!
GOOD MANNERS
To respect the local customs is to show a basic courtesy towards a welcoming country. To avoid any embarrassing situations and misunderstandings, conform to the usage. Here are some essential rules: In Morocco, access to mosques and holy places is forbidden to non-Muslims. Some exceptions: Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Mohamed V Mausoleum in Rabat, Moulay Ismaïl Mausoleum in Meknes, Moulay Ali Chérif Mausoleum in Rissani.Avoid provocative outfits. Accept the mint tea, a gesture of hospitality. If you are invited to share a family meal, you will symbolically wash your hands at the ewer. The meal will begin after the householder has pronounced the "bismillah", praise to God. Eat with the right hand, taste everything, but do not think you have to finish all that is on your plate, it is usually impossible! Avoid drinking, eating, and smoking in public during the day during Ramadan. If you want to photograph a person, do not forget to ask permission.
Holidays
Civil life is governed by the Gregorian calendar. Unlike other Muslim countries, the weekend consists of Saturday and Sunday. Fridays
are not holidays, but public services and administrations extend their
lunch break to allow the faithful to go to prayer. Religious life follows the Muslim calendar. It begins July 16, 622, the day when the prophet Mohamed left Mecca to settle in Medina where he had many more followers. The Hegira year, the lunar year consists of 12 months but is shorter than the solar year. The month of Ramadan and the great religious holidays vary from the Gregorian calendar.
