Morocco Local Customs

  aussirose & Howie enjoy Tagine in...
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Morocco

151.

Djellabas and kaftans   Marrakesh

Djellabas and kaftans, Marrakesh

 6 Reviews   The traditional Moroccan dress for both men and women is this long hooded garment known as a djellaba. It seems very practical – the body is protected from weather and from the dirt of the street,... 

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152.

Bargain!   Marrakesh

Bargain!, Marrakesh

 9 Reviews  When in Marrakesh expect to have to haggle for everything! Some general tips: - Have a maximum price in mind for the item and offer slightly below it. - If they offer you a ridiculously high price... 

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153.

Henna Ladies   Marrakesh

Henna Ladies, Marrakesh

 3 Reviews  Moroccan ladies desperate to paint henna designs on foreigners' hands and feet seem to be everywhere in the Medina, with the biggest concentration in el Djemaa el Fna. There are two types: natural... 

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154.

Moroccan Wine   Marrakesh

Moroccan Wine, Marrakesh

 2 Reviews  Despite the huge growth in tourism in Marrakech, it's still surprisingly difficult to find places selling alcohol, especially in the medina. On our last night in the city, we wanted to get some wine... 

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155.

Moroccan music   Marrakesh

Moroccan music, Marrakesh

 3 Reviews  The Jmaa El Fna square is a UNESCO heritage site, largely due to the story tellers that pass on stories in Arabic, but also note the musicians and various other stalls. However, be prepared to pay a... 

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156.

Water man   Marrakesh

Water man, Marrakesh

 2 Reviews  Around the Medina and some of the historical sites you will see men in funny looking attire with brass cups hanging off them. These are water men who supply the locals with water usually from local... 

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157.

Public Baths   Marrakesh

Public Baths, Marrakesh

 2 Reviews  Hamman Ziani is just down the road from Palais Bahia. It is a traditional style Hamman catering for tourists. 80Dh for Hammam, Steam, Gommage and Soaping - compared to 150 Dh at our hotel spa. I took... 

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158.

Taking Photos   Marrakesh

Taking Photos, Marrakesh

 1 Review  This advice isn't unique to Morocco, but it's the first time I've been brave enough to try it and it worked a treat: I always look in travel magazines and books and am amazed at the magnificent... 

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159.

The Pink City   Marrakesh

The Pink City, Marrakesh

 1 Review  Well all the houses inside and, nearly all outside are pink ... why??? well the material with wich the outside wall makes the wall be pink, ... nowadays people MUST by law paint their houses that way... 

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Concern for the poor - Begging in the Streets

by JamalMorelli

Unlike New Orleans, where I have seen old beggars get pushed off of curbs by well heeled tourists (before I found a quiet place to straighten the traveler out) Fes has a real, though unostentatious, concern for the poor. Now you can say it's Islam - that is a good start. The Quran's injunction to care for the downtrodden couldn't be avoided even by the willful of obscurers and defamers. Someone more cynical will say it's Bedouin culture - we feed so we are fed. As well as the potlatch aspect of gift giving. Finally some will say they are too scared to say no. Stop thinking about it for a second, will you? Take that 10 dirhams out of your pocket and give it to the poor chap near you right now.Good job, kid. You really are making me proud. Go on ahead back to thinking or discuss with your new Moroccan friends. Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt...

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Quranic Chanting - Free Concert

by JamalMorelli

Hang out near a mosque on Friday before noon prayers (or enter it of course if you are Muslim) and enjoy a free spiritual concert. Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Abstract Geometric Art and Crafts

by JamalMorelli

patterns, meaning - much is made of the craftsmanship of the muslims to create mind-twisting geometrical art by repeating that muslims aren't allowed to have representational art and therefore are forced to express themselves in abstractions. Like most of these passenger-side analysis, we won't find this idea as widely repeated amongst the people to whom the art belongs. "If we wanted to make pictures of people we would do it," says Aicha Hatim, Fassi. "The eye loves it, and so, we have it." Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

Open hearts, open minds - Morocco

by JamalMorelli

Having been raised in the States, if a man held my hand (or even tried) I'd better steer clear of him unless I was/or wanted to be percieved as queer. (which I wasn't/am not, but that was/is irrelevant) And if I wore earrings and long hair, I would be both seen as the above and not be seen as a team player (unless that team was a music ensemble.) Here, in Morocco, I am totally accepted while having nobody around me that's like me. I am easily the only freak in my corner of the Ville Nouvelle, itself the only slightly more modern part of the more nationally conservative Fes (unless you count the pre-dawn drunks and glue sniffers outside right now) I am also the only freak amongst my friends, who neither emulate me or long to. Yet I count these people to be among the best, most thoughtful and empathetic friends I have ever had, in any country, at any time of my life... this is my...

Islam - A CULTURE,IDEOLOGY OR RELIGION?

by JamalMorelli

An invite for Jam to share insights about any cultural differences a traveler to this destination might encounter.Here's a biggie:IS ISLAM A CULTURE,IDEOLOGY OR RELIGION? Islamic ideology (as well as it's fall-out, culture) is contained within the blissful worlds of the prophet's (pbuh) revelations, as well as that of his life and previously revealed scriptures. Islamic ideology is to Revelation what a lake is to the ocean. (My destined to fail attempt at a)Answer: Islam is the surrender to, "the belief in, and worship of a superhuman controlling power" - that's religion. Make of that what you will, curious travelmonkey.

Morocco - Islam, Pork and You, The Pork Eater

by JamalMorelli

Why is Pork forbidden in Islam?Peace,Gotta say - I sure wish it wasn't haram. I loved eating giant turkey sandwiches with bacon on them. And pepperoni? Forget about it. That one makes me especially sad - even since living in India I stopped eating beef, too. Yes, that's halal, but I like the moo guys now. Pizza Hut does a halal pepperoni over here in Morocco if anyone wants to come over and have some. It's usually a Casablanca treat since crap food hasn't found it's way to Fes yet.The law is most likely vestigial from food prohibitions in Torah - the amount of pigs they would have had to turn down were probably not too plentiful. Why else? They are pretty gross. And have some seriously funky habits. In India, I watched a pig chase a ten year old down a street trying to eat the kids excrement - as the poor kid had unwisely thought to relieve herself in an alley. (No comment on the kid's...

Couscous

by JamalMorelli

CouscousIt really is a symbol of family gatherings, the holy day of Friday, a Moroccan symbol - much more so than the flag.More on this tradition later... Things you will say in this situation: HEAR MOROCCAN ARABIC: Salaam alikoomsay HEAR MOROCCAN ARABIC: Hamdoo LilLah HEAR MOROCCAN ARABIC: SHUKRAN!after your meal Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Hug the man/Don't hug the lady...A warning/custom

by JamalMorelli

FOR MEN: I'm Italian, so I really have to resist bear-hugging people the same way I have to resist checking out a woman's whole body before I know her name. Especially here in Morocco, when it seems like the thing to do to anyone - you'll know when someone wants one. If you don't know, don't do it. Better still, if you're not being hugged by a woman you don't know, don't offer. You can really, really offend your host, your friend, and whoever's husband/boyfriend of that girl you just hugged.This is also advice for Moroccan Americans returning to Morocco - in case you have become so culturally retarded and out of touch that you come back with the "Oh come on, lemme give ya big one" - I've seen people get smacked for that one. Male and female.FOR WOMEN: Playing it safe, just reverse the sex in this advice and it still applies. You know, we are NOT AT ALL in Saudi here but it's just a...

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Be gracious... Moroccan style

by JamalMorelli

Graciousness is expected of you and a foul mouth which brings a bit more laughter in the West can just be awkward and upsetting for your host. For that matter, small things like calling someone 'crazy' in an affectionate way, naming their behavior after an animals (even if you LOVE that animal and would take it as a complement yourself) ....even calling YOURSELF stupid may bring in a volley of disappointed looks and comments. Never, ever play with bread or mishandle it, discarding it in a way that would appear disrespectful. Old men circle the streets in the mornings taken bags of uneaten dried bread to sell it as food for animals.One of the more important things to remember is to NOT directly compliment people or their possessions alot - it is considered widely to be a sort of curse "evil eye" unless the complement is immediately followed with "t'barak allah alik" as in "you look...

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Heart Graffiti

by JamalMorelli

Spray Painting in America: Common are the words 'f*ck you' or 'go away ni**ers' or some blobby little star fellow who is a sign that you should keep moving.Graffito in Morocco: Extremely common are Hearts and the word 'Love'Wander around Fes for example - keep your eyes open. I look forward to a day when everyone's idea of defacing a building is by writing the word 'Love' Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Local traditions and culture in Morocco

Top 3 Hotels in Morocco

Riad Kniza  Marrakesh

 2 Reviews and 563 Opinions  Beautifully decorated room, cozy aura, clean bathroom, delicious food and warmhearted staff. I got... 

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Hyatt Regency  Casablanca

 5 Reviews and 137 Opinions  I worked very hard during the day in a office witout air conditioned. You can understand how I was... 

 Hotels in Casablanca

Villa Maroc  Essaouira

 4 Reviews and 152 Opinions  Suites #27, #29,#30 are built around an open central light well. There is no way to insulate any of... 

 Hotels in Essaouira

1,497 Hotels in Morocco
 
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Local Customs: Cities in Morocco
  1. Marrakesh Local Customs
  2. Casablanca Local Customs
  3. Agadir Local Customs
  4. Tangier Local Customs
  5. Fes Local Customs
  6. Essaouira Local Customs
  7. Rabat Local Customs
  8. Ouarzazate Local Customs
  9. Merzouga Local Customs
  10. Agadir Local Customs
  11. Tetouan Local Customs
  12. Meknes Local Customs
  13. Asilah Local Customs
  14. Taza Local Customs
  15. Zagora Local Customs
  16. Rissani Local Customs
  17. Tafraoute Local Customs
  18. Ait Ben Haddou Local Customs
  19. Larache Local Customs
  20. Chefchaouene Local Customs
  21. Telouet Local Customs
  22. El Goumt du Dades Local Customs
  23. Volubilis Local Customs
  24. Tinerhir Local Customs
  25. Atlas Local Customs
  26. Setti Fatma Local Customs
  27. Sale Local Customs
  28. Azrou Local Customs
  29. Erfoud Local Customs
  30. Taroudannt Local Customs
  31. El Kelaa des Mgouna Local Customs
  32. Taghazout Local Customs
  33. Fes al Bali Local Customs
  34. Agdz Local Customs
  35. Safi Local Customs
  36. Oualidia Local Customs

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Wilaya de Marrakech Local Customs  Wilaya de Casablanca Local Customs  Province d' Ouarzazate Local Customs  Province de Tanger Local Customs  Province de Figuig Local Customs  Wilaya de Rabat-Sale Local Customs  Province d' Essaouira Local Customs  Province d' Er Rachidia Local Customs  Province d' Agadir Local Customs  Province de Tiznit Local Customs  Wilaya de Meknes Local Customs  Province de Tetouan Local Customs  Province d' El Jadida Local Customs 

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