Houda ZalzouliHouda ZalzouliHouda ZalzouliHouda Zalzouli

Wedding;

Ramadan;

Tenth of Moharrem

Green March.

In some parts in Morocco, In some parts in Morocco, tradition requires that five days tradition requires that five days before the wedding, the bride before the wedding, the bride his a ceremonial bath, then is his a ceremonial bath, then is painted with henna swirls on painted with henna swirls on hands and feet, an adorned hands and feet, an adorned with make up and jewels by with make up and jewels by

other women.other women.

• Often of women and men celebrate in Often of women and men celebrate in separate guest halls, with the groom being separate guest halls, with the groom being allowed to enter the women's hall to enjoy allowed to enter the women's hall to enjoy the dancing. Sometimes there is food for the dancing. Sometimes there is food for everyone; in other weddings, either the men everyone; in other weddings, either the men or women just drink coffee while the other or women just drink coffee while the other gender feasts. Or perhaps there will only be gender feasts. Or perhaps there will only be feasts for the family. In addition, they make feasts for the family. In addition, they make the photo and in the evening of this day, the the photo and in the evening of this day, the bride goes to house of bridegroom to live bride goes to house of bridegroom to live with him.with him.

• The Green March The Green March was a well-publicized was a well-publicized popular march of popular march of enormous enormous proportions. On proportions. On November 6, 1975, November 6, 1975, approximately approximately 350,000 unarmed 350,000 unarmed Moroccans Moroccans converged on the converged on the city of Tarfaya in city of Tarfaya in southern Morocco southern Morocco and waited for a and waited for a signal from King signal from King Hassan II to cross Hassan II to cross into Sahara.into Sahara.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, involves Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, involves abstaining from food, drink, sexual relations, abstaining from food, drink, sexual relations, smoking and other vices between sunrise and smoking and other vices between sunrise and sunset. Its conclusion is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, one sunset. Its conclusion is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, one of the two major Islamic holidays.of the two major Islamic holidays.

At a Moroccan IAt a Moroccan Iftarftar, dates, milk, juices, and sweets , dates, milk, juices, and sweets typically provide the sugar surge needed after a day typically provide the sugar surge needed after a day of going without food. of going without food. HariraHarira, a hearty lentil and , a hearty lentil and tomato souptomato soup

Ashura is great day celebrated by all Ashura is great day celebrated by all Muslims around the world on the 10th day Muslims around the world on the 10th day of Muharram, the 1rst month which marks of Muharram, the 1rst month which marks the beginning of the Islamic new year. The the beginning of the Islamic new year. The meaning of the word “Ashura” is related to meaning of the word “Ashura” is related to the number ten in Arabic language.the number ten in Arabic language.

Moroccans start celebrating Ashura the Moroccans start celebrating Ashura the night before by setting tree branches on night before by setting tree branches on fire and roaming the streets with the fire and roaming the streets with the torches while repeating chants related to torches while repeating chants related to the occasion. Sometimes Moroccans light the occasion. Sometimes Moroccans light a fire in the yards of their houses and start a fire in the yards of their houses and start jumping over it. jumping over it. This ritual is called “shaaela,” meaning This ritual is called “shaaela,” meaning “flames,” and is mainly practiced in “flames,” and is mainly practiced in working class districts and desert areas.working class districts and desert areas.