While in Morocco, it’s always paramount to get to know where you are to be as well as when to be there. This regards the festivals and holidays; cultural, religious and historical throughout the year in Morocco. Here below, we provide you with a definitive guide to some of the cultural, historical as well as religious holidays and festivals that take place throughout the year in Morocco.
Moroccan Citizens celebrate quite a number of both Muslim and national festivals throughout the whole year. Some of the dates of their religious holidays are however determined on the lunar calendar and this makes them impossible to predict according the western calendar that is mostly used in other parts of the world. Sometimes there can be fasting or feasting and dancing during the festivals, depending on the sort of vacation being fêted. It is mandatory for all Muslims to observe all their festivals regardless of how long they take. However, sometimes this turns out to be somewhat difficult since some of these like the Ramadhan festivities last for the whole month and those who observe it have spend all that time fasting and abstaining from sex, drinking and smoking. Some festivals are held in honour of saints. These are known as Moussems (ammougars).
Most of the time the celebrations are all about having lots of fun; therefore if you are planning a visit you may consider visiting during one of them as this can greatly boost your trip to this country. Some of these holidays from January are as below.
January
New Years Day; mostly dominated by Western Celebration
Independence Celebration; a more of Secular celebration
February
Tafraoute ; marking the end of the winter rains.
Aid Al Adha / A'd el-Khebir ; marking the remembrance of the sacrifice of Abrahams.
March & April
Beni Mellal ; marking the Cotton harvest moussem
Fatih Mouharam ; this sees the beginning of the Islamic New Years
Ashura ; a day of tithing
Aid el Arch ; this is the commemoration of the coronation of King Mohammed VI
May
Moulay Bousselham ; marking the Moussem of Sidi Ahmed Ben Mansour
Berkane; marking the harvest moussem for clementines
El Kelia des Mgouna; this is the rose festival to celebrate the new crops
Labour Day; the international May 1
Id el Mouloud; festival to celebrate the birth day of Prophet Mohammed.
Ben Aissa Moussem: this includes amazing displays of fantasia, glass swallowing, etc and is the largest of all moussems .
June
Music Festival: this festival pulls musicians from all around the world and is normally held in Fez.
Independence Day; this takes a week long festival by the Oceanside.
Goulimine; this is traditionally a fair for camel traders
Tan Tan - Guedra dance may be presented at this festival and is for
Moussem of Sidi Mohammed Ma el Ainin.
Gnaoua Festival ; this is mainly a Music Festival
July
Marrakesh Popular Arts Festival; a traditional Moroccan folklore
Tetouan: with such a great splendour of ceremony Moussem of Moulay Abdessalem is celebrated very religiously.
Sefrou; this is the festival of the cherry harvest
Al Hoceima; the festival of the sea harvest
Celebration of the Throne ; Parades and fireworks on the 30th of July
August
Asilah Arts Festival; is mainly the exposure for local artists
Celebration of the Young takes place on August 21
Sefrou: Moussem of Sidi Lahcen el Youssi
Setti Fatma : Popular moussem held in the Ourika valley
El Jadida: Moussem of Moulay Abdallah. It features fantasias.
Tiznit: Moussem of Sidi Ahmed ou Moussa. This is predominantly a religious festival.
Immouzer du Kandar: a moussem for harvesting apples and pears.
Immouzer des Ida Outanane : a honey moussem which last about a week.
September
Chefchaouen : Moussem of Sidi Allal al Hadh.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun: Moussem of Moulay Idriss, the patron saint of Fez, which is the biggest religious moussem.
Imilchil: this is a marriage festival in the Atlas Mountains also a display for the traditional attire
October
The Date Festival: this only has got the date festival which is held in Erfoud
November
Ramadhan: this is the month of fasting
Independence Day: on this 18th day of November the Moroccans also mark the Independence Day.
Eid al Fitr: marks the end of the month of Ramadhan
Erfoud : this is a harvest festival
December
Rafsae: the olive harvest festival
Hajj Day; celebrated on the 31st of December which is normally the last day of the year.
Events in Morocco
Weddings in Morocco