The holy month of Ramadan in Morocco

The rising sun of April the 2nd marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan this year.

What is Ramadan?

During the ninth month of the Muslim year, Muslims from all over the world abstain from food and drinks from sunrise to sunset to mark that Allah gave the first sections of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad in 610 C.E.

Additionally, as a reminder of their religious obligation to help those who are less fortunate, Muslims share the hunger and thirst of the poor during Ramadan. Through this temporary restriction, Muslims renew their awareness of and gratitude for everything Allah has given them in their lifetime, including the Holy Islamic Text, the Quran.

What are Ramadan traditions?

The Islamic term Suhur refers to the feast that takes place early in the morning. This meal is held before fasting so people eat well before spending the whole day fasting. The meal s eaten before sunrise and before the dawn prayer known as fajr.

When the sun sets, a communal meal known as iftar is held? During this meal, families, and friends typically break their fast together and eat the foods they please until sunrise hits again.

In my Moroccan family, our Suhur meals always contain Moroccan Amlou, and Organic honey to sustain the day.

What is Ramadan like in Morocco ?

Ramadan is called the month of fasting and resurrection, as an expression of appreciation and veneration of the religious side of this holy time. Apart from the religious aspect, our Moroccan society has developed other customs, one of them being the grandiose character of Iftar, the feast of breaking the fast.

What are the special Moroccan dishes for Iftar and Suhur?

The Iftar table is considered the main meal during the holy month, and Harira soup is its most important component, prepared with pulses, vegetables, and spices. The table includes dates, milk, eggs, fruit juice, and pies, in addition to various types of desserts, including Chebakia (fried pastries), Sellou, Briouates, and Kaab Ghazal (almond pastries).

We treat the stomach gently and don’t overload it. After fasting all day, you won’t be able to digest a lot of food easily, so it’s best to start with something light, perhaps Harira, which is rich in vegetables; and quickly digested sugars such as Chebakia. Then we let the stomach recover for an hour or two, after which come traditional Moroccan dishes such tagines, served with meat and vegetables as well as chicken.

What do Moroccan wear during Ramadan?

This is the month when traditional Moroccan costumes come into their own, particularly the Moroccan Djellaba and Moroccan Kaftan in various colors and designs. Men can also wear Djellabas. These clothes are worn with Moroccan slippers also known as babouches.

Here’s our Ramadan-wear selection:

How do Moroccans decorate their home for Ramadan?

It’s an opportunity to change the decoration of our houses to make them more beautiful and welcoming for family and friends using Ramadan lanterns. Many people set up a space at home dedicated to prayer and reading the Quran.

We’re obsessed with these Ramadan lamps: