Moroccan culture

Morocco is a nation with a rich culture and civilization. It has always been a land of cultural exchanges and encounters given its strategically-located position between the Mediterranean and Atlantic, Europe and Africa. Morocco hosted many people coming from these areas, all of them have had an impact on the social and cultural structure of the country.

The richness of the Moroccan culture comes from the various civilizations that Morocco encountered trough different eras in its history. From the Byzantine civilization to the Roman influence to the Arab civilization, then the Spanish and French, Morocco is now a panorama of genuine values of tolerance and multiculturalism and gets its unity in its diversity.

The Kingdom is well known to be a center for interfaith dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews and today provides an arena for open dialogue. The country is constantly offering innovating solutions to contemporary problems through progressive applications of Islamic principles.

Cultural Diversity:
The country's long-standing history has undoubtedly contributed to the emergence of a rich, authentic and diversified culture that takes several forms and manifestations, such as literature, architecture, clothing, handicrafts, traditional music and folklore and gastronomy.

Language:
The Standard Arabic is the official language in Morocco. However, French is widely used as business is conducted in French. In the north of Morocco and the Deep South, Spanish is widespread. Staff in hotels is multilingual. In tourist cities like Rabat, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir, merchants and guides speak several languages. The “Tamazight” has its origin in North Africa back 10,000 years ago and is the language Berbers speak today. The Tamazight in its historical and cultural aspects is part of the Moroccan identity.

Literature:
Two main features characterize the contemporary Moroccan literature. First, it is a bilateral literature since it is expressed in Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish and English. Second, although it is young- hardly 70 years of existence – it has grown and evolved tremendously.

Some of the literature in Morocco is written in Arabic, French, Berber and even in Spanish or English. The diversity of Moroccan literature is truly amazing, as are the writers who pen these literary masterpieces.

Architecture:
The visual style of Morocco's decorative arts has enthralled visitors for centuries. Common thèmes are a deep commitment to complex geometric, floral and calligraphic visual pattern, pared with simple, bright, and often whitewashed colors.

A walk through any medina will reveal extraordinarily complex tile, or zellij mosaics, covering public fountains, walls, and furniture. A visit to any riad “house” or medrasa “school” will reveal stone and wood carved calligraphic patterns taken from the Holly Koran, against a background of near-infinite geometric complexity.

The architecture of Morocco consists of more or less the Islamic style of construction. However the designs show signs of being profoundly influenced by Spanish styles of the mid centuries.

Moroccan architecture has witnessed an extraordinary renaissance in recent years as architects and interior designers from Morocco and around the world have taken an interest in Moroccan design elements big (courtyards) and small (lamps), rethinking and updating them.

One of the finest examples of architecture in Morocco is found in the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. It ranks second in size, behind the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, the tallest mosque in the world, in addition to being one of the most beautiful.

A great portion of the Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca is built on the water of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a saying that the mosque reflects a line of Qur'an, "the throne of God was built on the water".

The interior of the mosque is even more impressive than the exterior with an amount of detail in the work unheard of at this scale, with beautiful ceramic mosaics on the walls, luxurious marble and rugs on the floor, and beautifully carved wood ceilings.

Moroccan culture has a centuries-old tradition of openness to the world due to its geographical position at the crossroads of continents that is not new but dates back to ancient times. But Islam that has a profound personality shaped Moroccan culture and made it intimately linked to religion that permeate the rules of conduct, ethics and exchange based on a genuine sense of moderation, reserve and modesty .


Although modernity is taking over, as adopting the model of Western life seems to be gaining ground at the risk of intimidating and provoking the fundamental secular culture. It remains that this opening should not be construed as an abandonment of the Moroccan cultural exception, but more as a kind of existential search that is not slow in desperation to return to the roots, which is true and deep in every Moroccan whatever his or her degree of modernization.
I might sound a bit exagerating here but I can not stress enough how a respectful attitude is important. People might look modern but this is Moroccan culture, a different culture.

An alien who comes to work, visit or invest in Morocco is to understand the psychology of Moroccans and do not be misled by appearances, and must remember that one is in a foreign country and should respect, and not be considered vulgar, with language and gestures.

It is not a no man's land where one would come with the pretentious condescension to despise the culture, habits and customs of others.

The tolerance that characterizes Moroccans is part of the Moroccan culture and does not mean permission to insult their culture, rape their objection or exploit their talents. As it is useful to recall that Morocco is a large country in history and memory where you can learn if you have the ability to listen , respect and admire.

Language

Moroccan culture is also praised for language diversity. apart from classical Arabic, the language of education, administration and media, the daily language in Morocco is Arabic dialect, Tamazight (Berber) which spoken in the Rif, the Atlas, and the Souss and it varies by region. Most Moroccans speak French, many speak Spanish and English. 

Religion

Islam is the official religion of Morocco, but the 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 Muazzin who announces them at the top of the minaret. During the month of Ramadan, the Moroccans fast, stop drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset. Obviously, their day is modified. Most governments, utilities, buildings and stores adjust their schedules.

However, non-Muslims are to eat in certain restaurants, particularly in hotels. The days drag on but the nights are beautiful!

Kitchen

Moroccan food elegantly accommodates vegetables and fruits bursting with sunshine, rare spices and fragrant, delicate, tasty fish and meat ... The best of oriental cuisine, famous throughout the world, put your taste buds to feast.

The main Moroccan dishes to taste absolutely: Skewers: at the entrance of a souk, a place near a road is cooked before your eyes. It is delicious, quick and economical.

Couscous: it's the traditional family lunch on Friday, but you will find it every day in the restaurant. During your trip you can enjoy many couscous dishes because it varies by region and creativity of the cook. Try not to use a spoon to eat, but rather your fingers, experience Moroccan culture. Mechoui lamb: roasted on a spit or baked. The meat melts in your mouth!

Pastilla: a thin pastry stuffed with pigeon and almonds: the famous sweet to savory Moroccan dish.

There are variations in fish, chicken and even pudding for dessert.

Dishes of Ramadan at sunset the fast is broken (f'tour) with the rich and tasty harira, soup meat, lentils, chick peas, with beghrir, small pancakes honeycomb served with melted butter and honey, shebbakias, cakes fried in oil and coated with honey. This is "light" snack but wait for the real dinner that takes place later in the night.

Tagine: this word refers to both the container (flat earthenware decorated with typical conical lid) and content (stew of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables cooked in, crushed). Taste? you will understand why the tajine is the national dish of Morocco.

Moroccan tea: it quenches thirst, warm, riveted, to drink in the morning, after meals, at any time. A pleasure never refuse. The baking cakes with honey, horns of gazelles, Feqqas almonds, raisins, almonds ghoriba, sesame ... Irresistible! 

Know Moroccan Culture

Showing respect to local customs is to demonstrate a basic courtesy to a welcoming country.

To avoid any embarrassing situations and misunderstandings, be nice. Here are some basic rules:

In Morocco, access to mosques and holy places is forbidden to non-Muslims. Some exceptions: Mosque Hassan II in Casablanca, Mohamed V Mausoleum in Rabat Mausoleum, Moulay Ismail in Meknes, Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum at Rissani.

Avoid provocative outfits. Avoid unnecessary attention. Unless you are on the beach ofcourse.

Accept the mint tea, a gesture of hospitality.

If you are invited to share a family meal, you need to symbolically wash your hands in the ewer they will give you. The meal will begin after the householder has pronounced the "bismillah" in praise of God.

Eat with your right hand, taste everything, but do not think you have to finish whatever is on your plate, it is usually impossible!

Avoid drinking, eating and smoking in public during the days of the Ramadan. You might attract unnecessary attention.

The henna is essentially already known to the pharaohs used by women. In Moroccan culture, it has many uses: Cosmetics (its flower provides a perfume, cleaning and dyeing of hair), pharmaceutical (anti perspirant, anti mycosité regulator of sebum secretion,...), Ceremonies and religious holiday s (Ramadan, weddings, baptizing , circumcision). It is an aesthetic temporary tattoo.

If you want to photograph someone, do not forget to ask permission. people will be happy you asked. 

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