When it’s time to decide the next destination for our trip, it’s important to consider not only our desires, the climate, and the time of year but also to take into account the cultural and religious aspects of each place.
If indeed, your chosen destination is Morocco, you should be aware that it is an extremely religious country. Islam is at the center of their lives and influences their habits, and during periods such as Ramadan, there are evident changes in how society functions. Let’s delve deeper into this topic.
What is Ramadan and When is it Celebrated?
First, let’s try to understand what Ramadan is: Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it is the month dedicated to purification and drawing closer to God. All faithful who have reached puberty are invited to pray, abstain from food and drink, smoking, and sexual relations. This is observed every single day of the month from dawn until sunset. The only exceptions are those who belong to categories such as pregnant women, breastfeeding women, chronically ill individuals, children, and the elderly.
At sunset, after the fourth prayer of the day, everyone gathers for iftar, the meal that is consumed to break the fast, which consists of vegetable soup (harira), dates, chebakia (typical sweets), and plenty of water.
Ramadan never falls on exactly the same days each year because the Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon. Ramadan starts the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon, which can be difficult to spot because it appears faint and for only about 20 minutes. If the moon is not visible to the naked eye due to cloudy skies or haze, lunar calculations are used to predict its appearance. It is always in the ninth month of the lunar calendar.
The number 9 is indeed significant: in astrology, the ninth house speaks of God and the need to draw closer to the divine.
What Changes During Ramadan?
Given that the focus in this month is on prayer and purification, many businesses such as shops and restaurants are closed. Those that remain open observe different hours with delayed openings and early closures, and this also applies to banks, public offices, museums, and monuments. The more touristy areas might not see such changes, but as curious travelers, we shouldn’t limit ourselves only to those places.
The observation of Ramadan is not enforced by law, but in some countries, it is forbidden to eat and drink in public. Tourists are exempt from this rule, but out of respect for the believers, it is recommended to eat only inside restaurants and avoid public areas.
We might also find areas closed to traffic; indeed, the mosques and their surroundings might be cordoned off to make room for those who pray and haven’t been fortunate enough to enter the mosque itself. Consequently, loudspeakers play the voice of the imam to ensure that it reaches all the faithful in the neighborhood. Additionally, there is a change in the time schedule, and standard time might be reverted to during these days.
Traveling to Morocco During Ramadan: YES OR NO?
Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan could be very interesting if you are looking for a spiritual environment and a unique cultural experience. However, you should be prepared as you might encounter difficulties with meal times or when visiting museums or monuments. From our side, we prefer to travel with our motorbike at other times of the year to respect this sacred moment for Morocco. Moreover, during this month, the daily schedules of people’s lives are very shifted as they can only eat after sunset, leading to more active nights and sometimes difficult days. The rigor of fasting tests people’s self-discipline, which might result in irritable temperaments. We at Aries Moto Tours take advantage of this time of year to travel with our motorbike among the wonders of Andalusia and Portugal. Will you join us?