Visit Morocco during Ramadan

Visit Morocco during Ramadan

 Visit Morocco During Ramadan; Ramadan is an Islamic holiday celebrated every year for one month. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar, so each year Ramadan is advanced by 10 days in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Ramadan falls mainly in March and will end at the very beginning of April.

Although some people refuse to Visit Morocco during Ramadan, anticipating problems or inconvenience, this is no reason to postpone their plans. In fact, for the culturally curious, Ramadan may be the best time of year to visit! However, before embarking on a trip, it’s important to know a few things about Ramadan. Here are a few things that may influence your visit, hopefully for the better!

What does fasting during Ramadan consist of?

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting includes food and water, but also cigarettes and other forms of tobacco (and even chewing gum). People break the fast with friends and family after sunset and get up early, before dawn, to eat before the new fasting day begins. In general, this means that most Moroccans fast from around 3.30am to 8pm (the exact time varies from day to day, depending on the exact time of first light – or ‘sunrise’ – and sunset).

Bad temper and gossip should also be avoided during this holy month. Ramadan is a time to reflect on the blessings that each person has received and to understand the suffering of those who are deprived of their basic needs, such as food and water. Many Muslims participate in special prayers, known as tarawih, in mosques after breaking their fast.

How does it feel to Visit Morocco during Ramadan?

It is a special and spiritual time for Muslims, and if you visit Morocco during Ramadan, it is impossible not to get caught up in the contagious excitement. It is an exciting time to see for yourself the rituals and traditions of Morocco and Islam! if you visit Morocco during Ramadan allows you to see a side of the culture not seen at other times of the year: at the end of the day, the time of fasting, cannons are sounded to announce the time for meals. In many mosques, tables are set up after prayers so that hungry people can eat. Thousands of people can be seen gathering at the mosque to pray together. At this time, special meals are prepared in markets and on street corners. Foodies should be aware that many of these special dishes are not available at other times of the year.

Alcohol, in particular, is harder to find outside of upscale bars and restaurants. In the weeks before and during Ramadan, the sale of alcohol is virtually prohibited. Alcohol shops must be closed by law in the weeks before and during Ramadan.

I am not a Muslim, do I have to fast?

The answer is simple: no. If you visit Morocco during Ramadan, you do not have to fast. Most restaurants, cafés and other eating establishments are open, especially in tourist destinations such as Marrakech and Fez. No one expects tourists to fast. Rather, they will be concerned for your health and well-being if you try to fast! Some people are afraid to eat in front of Muslim friends or guides. Don’t worry. You have nothing to worry about.  Everyone who works in the travel industry is used to it, so it’s really not a problem. If you are afraid of offending someone, consider eating in restaurants and refrain from snacking or drinking water on the street or in other public places.

What are the working hours during the month of Ramadan?

As with other special holidays around the world, companies change their operating hours during Ramadan. Perhaps the most significant time change is summer time. During this month, the time in Morocco changes to -1 GMT. Shops may not open early in the morning and close shortly before sunset. This is to coincide with meal and prayer times. Of course, not everything is closed, but it is commonplace. Monuments, historical sites, and other attractions are regulated to have shorter opening hours and often close in the early afternoon. Plan with this in mind and try to be as patient as possible.

If you visit Morocco during Ramadan with us, the Sahara Morocco Travel team will do its best to accommodate you while working around these changes to the schedule. changes and meet your needs. Travellers who have visited Morocco during Ramadan have commented on the slow meal times. In this respect, it is very similar to Spain. Families and those dining in riads can have a sunset meal (ftour: breakfast, in the post) as their main meal. However, dinner preparation does not start until at least 30 minutes after the ftour, so expect dinner to be eaten much later. This means that during Ramadan, especially outside the major urban centers, you should not expect to eat a traditional Moroccan ftour before 9pm.

Are there any special experiences I should have while visiting Ramadan?

Be sure to pass by the mosque during sunset prayer to see the flow of worshippers at prayer. It can be a really impressive sight to see hundreds or even thousands of people praying together.
Enjoy a meal. Many restaurants and hotels offer pre-prepared meals for the interruption of Lent. These include a variety of Moroccan sweets, spicy harira soup, and juices. If you can, invite someone into the house to taste the traditional future is a truly wonderful experience.
At least once, go to a main market like Jemma el Fnaa in Marrakech to see the nighttime festivities and the excitement that people really experience at this time of year.