The vast majority of Moroccans believe in Islam, while the rest believe in Christianity and Judaism. They don't drink and seldom smoke. You are not allowed to enter the house without the owner's permission. They usually serve tea to their guests three times, and if they refuse, it will be considered impolite. They are as taboo as westerners 13. They are afraid of white and think that white symbolizes poverty.
When traveling in Morocco, it is best not to talk to strange women during traveling, riding, shopping and visiting. If you are visiting or staying, call a hospitable Arab, and the older one will usually be called Amon. If you call the old shopkeeper Haji, he will receive you more warmly.
Sheep Festival in Morocco
Among many traditional festivals in Morocco, the sheep festival on 1 22nd is the longest and most distinctive one.
The most solemn activity of this festival is the ceremony of sacrificing sheep. At the beginning of the ceremony, a prayer was held first, and then a strong man selected by the competition inserted a sharp knife into the sheep's neck on the spot, then carried the bleeding sheep on his back and quickly ran to the mosque. A large group of strong men, waving sticks, shouted behind them. Because the mosque is not far away, the stabbed sheep were still struggling when they were sent to the temple. At this time, the strong men fired their guns at the people waiting in the square to report the good news: the good news of harvest is coming! Then people celebrate each other, and every family has a big sheep feast. It is their traditional habit to hold a sheep feast.
A few days before the festival, every household went out to buy sheep, and temporary sheep markets were set up everywhere in towns and villages. The sheep feast in the festival is very lively. The way of hospitality Moroccans compete to invite relatives and friends to dinner at home, even strangers. Interestingly, this festival is also a traditional Moroccan peace festival. During the festival, not only family neighbors are not allowed to quarrel and argue, but even hostile tribal villages are not allowed to fight and conflict with each other. Therefore, the sheep festival is also called the "Peace Festival".
Wedding Day in Morocco
The unique bride festival of Ait-Hadi Berber tribe in Morocco, also called Musem Festival, is held every September for three days.
During the festival, the girls to be married wear white and plaid wool with tribal symbols. Accompanied by their relatives, they sat in a row in front of the ancestral temple in the market, waiting for the arrival of the right person. The young man who proposed marriage, wrapped in a neat white towel on his head, shuttled among the girls to be married in the company of confidantes and friends. When they find the right person, they extend their right hand to have sex. When a girl refuses to shake hands, she refuses. If she agrees, say "You took my liver" (Berbers believe that a healthy liver can bring happiness and happiness to the family), and then set a wedding date. Year after year, this bridal day has made many happy marriages.
Wedding Diet in Morocco
The most important thing for Moroccans to celebrate their wedding is to eat and drink. When parents of both sides get married for their children, they should hold a special banquet and invite relatives and friends to celebrate together.
At the wedding reception, a band played Moroccan folk music and sang beautiful folk songs. The round table is full of rich food. There are three large plates of food at the banquet: they are "Bustille" thousand-layer cakes, a large plate of chicken or beef and mutton, and another plate called "Cascos", which is a famous folk food in Morocco. After dinner, the guests sat around the round table, enjoying music and eating candy. When everyone finished eating and drinking and the women shouted "gourd", relatives and friends of both sides surrounded the bride and groom and crossed the street to be sent to the bridal chamber.
Moroccans' wedding ceremonies will last for several days and many banquets will be held. Weddings usually start on Thursday. The bride will dye her palms and soles with a special dye. The next day, the bride will hold a grand banquet for female relatives and friends, and the groom will hold a large-scale banquet for male relatives and friends on the third day.
The cost of a wedding is huge. It usually costs 40 thousand lira. The man's engagement gift to the bride is also very expensive. There is an ornament called "Madehe", which is an expensive and exquisite gold belt, which is tied on traditional clothes or wedding dresses. The bride's wedding dress is also extremely gorgeous, usually a colorful long-sleeved robe embroidered with gold and silver. A soft and smooth silk coat, a noble belt and a beautiful headscarf, and a pair of shiny shoes embroidered with gold and silver.
The bride is responsible for the layout of the reception room of the newlyweds, so the layout cost of such an Andalusian living room, which is deeply loved by Moroccans, often exceeds the bride price given by the groom to the bride.