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The worst time to visit Morocco is during Eid Al-Adha. During this holiday, the country witnesses a state of chaos, and people are usually overwhelmed with the rituals that come with it. Besides this, tourism service providers often face a shortage of staff, which may affect the quality of their services. There are other reasons that make Eid Al-Adha the worst period to visit Morocco. This post will help you learn about them in detail.
That said, some tourists might enjoy Morocco during Eid Al-Adha. Despite being a chaotic holiday, Eid Al-Adha is also a great opportunity to discover a significant part of Moroccan Islamic culture. Spending Eid Al-Adha with a Moroccan family will grant you the chance to enjoy delicious Moroccan food and unique cultural and religious rituals. However, it is essential to know exactly when you should be in Morocco for this occasion.
Eid Al-Adha is only a two-day holiday; however, the preparations for it start a month before. That period of preparation is the worst time to visit Morocco. During the approximately 30 days before Eid Al-Adha is when the chaos usually begins and remains until the day of slaughtering. If you're willing to discover this holiday, we recommend getting to Morocco a week before Eid Al-Adha. This way, you'll avoid a lot of unnecessary chaos.
Life returns to normal directly after the slaughtering day. On the second day of Eid Al-Adha, people take a rest to visit their families and enjoy relief from the stress that accompanied the preparations for the holiday. Tourism facilities might still be short-staffed, but not for long.
Here are the reasons that make Eid Al-Adha the worst time to visit Morocco, along with the reasons that might make it a suitable occasion for some tourists.
Before we start, we would like to suggest these Morocco travel guides to help you discover Morocco and all the impressive activities and locations you can visit and experience.
Alright let's get into it.
What Is Eid Al-Adha?
Eid Al-Adha, also known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," is an important Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world. It honors the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Instead, God provided a ram to sacrifice. During this holiday, families who can afford it, sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and share the meat with family, friends, and those in need. The holiday also includes special prayers, meals, and gatherings with loved ones.
This is how it starts: almost a month before the actual day of Eid Al-Adha, people begin preparing by looking for a healthy sheep, goat, or sometimes a cow to sacrifice. This high demand for livestock creates a large supply of such animals in the city markets. Sheep and goats on trucks and motorized tricycles become a common sight during this period. While visiting Morocco during this time, you'll definitely notice this.
The actual religious rituals begin on Eid Al-Adha (sacrifice day). People start by going to Eid prayers early in the morning. Once they come back from the prayer, they head to their homes' rooftops or sometimes to the streets to slaughter and process their sacrifice. Unfortunately, this ritual often comes with a lot of irresponsible behavior towards the city's hygiene and the environment.
Why Al-Adha Is The Worst Time To Visit Morocco
Eid Al-Adha is the worst time to visit Morocco for several reasons. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, cities can become quite dirty. People experience stress due to the financial responsibilities associated with the occasion, and tourism service providers struggle to maintain the quality of their services due to staff shortages. Before visiting Morocco during this time, be prepared to encounter chaos and some inconveniences that might affect your stay. Here are some details about the situation during Eid Al-Adha in Morocco:
Choas & Dirtiness
Sheep and goats are a common sight throughout Moroccan cities during the Al-Adha holiday. As you walk through the streets during this time, you'll likely encounter these animals and might even catch a whiff of their manure. As Eid approaches, the presence of animals in the cities becomes more pronounced. You'll see sheeps being transported on motorbikes and goats on small trolleys or even taxis.
If you're not accustomed to the smell of animals manure, this experience might be overwhelming.
One problem is that some people act irresponsibly. Many sheep merchants don’t clean up after their animals in the souks or on the streets. The souks become messy and crowded with garbage, dust, and a strong smell of manure in the days before Eid. On the day of the sacrifice, the cities get very dirty, and the overall hygiene and cleanliness get much worse.
The city’s sanitation systems can’t keep up with the animals waste and leftovers from all processed animals in the early hours. The air fills with smoke from countless BBQs and burning sheep heads for later use. Some people even start fires in alleyways for this. Overall, cities, especially on the day of the sacrifice, become chaotic and polluted. Luckily, municipal workers work hard to clean up the streets quickly once the rituals are done.
Stressed Locals
This occasion puts a lot of financial stress on many families in Morocco. During Eid al-Adha, most people are stressed and preoccupied with the preparations for the holiday. Conversations on the streets are almost entirely focused on this topic. The prices of other goods also usually spike, worsening the overall situation for most people. This can make it difficult for you to socialize with people in Morocco compared to other times.
Unfortunately, Eid al-Adha has become a burden for many. This is due to a misunderstanding of the values that this occasion is intended to bring to people's lives. Buying and sacrificing a sheep for Eid al-Adha is not an obligation or duty; however, people treat it as if it is. In other words, people force themselves to spend money on a sacrifice even though they are financially incapable of doing so. This is due to misguided social perceptions.
Moroccans are naturally very hospitable, but during this time, most of them are simply busy. It's true that stressed people aren't as fun to be around, but you won't be ignored or harassed while visiting Morocco during this period. The worst thing that might happen is witnessing a heated bargaining over a sheep or experiencing lower-quality service at your hotel. In general, the hospitality of Moroccans remains through tough times.
Low Quality Services
Eid al-Adha in Morocco might affect the conditions of your stay. While this is not always the case, tourism service providers might be negatively affected by a shortage of staff, which could impact the services provided to you as a visitor. However, your comfort won't be compromised to an extreme level. You might experience some delays in your food orders or issues with your room service, but nothing too serious.
Many tourism workers, such as waiters and other professionals, take days off to celebrate this occasion with their families, leading to a shortage of staff. However, most workers return to work just a few days after the Eid, usually within 2 to 3 days, so the disruption is relatively short-lived. Additionally, some local businesses, shops, and attractions may have altered operating hours or be temporarily closed during the holiday. This could limit your options for dining, shopping, and sightseeing.
So, visiting Morocco during Eid al-Adha could indeed be inconvenient. However, it also gives you a chance to see the local culture and traditions up close. Eid al-Adha is a very important celebration for Moroccans. By planning ahead and being flexible with your plans, you can handle any issues and enjoy your time in Morocco during this festive period. We recommend not visiting Morocco during this holiday, but if you're up for a challenge and can tolerate some chaos, let us tell you about the bright side.
Advantages of Visiting Morocco During Eid Al-Adha
Despite the cons mentioned above about visiting Morocco during Eid al-Adha, there are some advantages to making such a decision. We still believe that the days before this occasion are the worst time to visit Morocco. However, we feel obligated to let you know about some of the good things about Morocco during Eid al-Adha, just in case you're a person who doesn't mind chaos and challenges.
Good Food
Eid Al-adha is a chance to discover some meaty Moroccan recipes. During Eid al-Adha, Moroccan families prepare and enjoy special meat dishes that show off the country’s rich culinary heritage. One of the standout dishes is Mechoui, where a whole lamb is roasted to perfection, often on a spit over an open fire. However, this dish is only made by rich families, especially in Marrakesh. It would be hard to find a hosting family that offer this experience. However, you can have a taste of Mechoui in local restaurants.
Another must-try is Mrouzia, a sweet and savory lamb or beef tagine made with raisins, almonds, honey, and spices like cinnamon and saffron. This aromatic dish is typically served with traditional bread, offering a delightful mix of flavors. It's definitely worth trying.
You can also discover other delicious Moroccan dishes like Kefta, which is ground meat mixed with herbs and spices, shaped into patties or skewers, and grilled to perfection. Brochettes, skewered and grilled pieces of marinated lamb or beef, are another popular choice, often served with fresh bread and salads.
Another option would be the lamb tagine, a slow-cooked stew with vegetables and a blend of Moroccan spices, offers a hearty and comforting meal. By the way, check out the recipe of this tagine from here.
Rfissa is also worth exploring; it’s a dish made with chicken or lamb, lentils, and fenugreek seeds, served over shredded msemen or trid. These dishes are what makes the Eid much more fun and worth all the stress and hussle.
Discovering Moroccan/Islamic Culture
During Eid al-Adha in Morocco, you'll have the unique opportunity to experience and understand the rich traditions that make this holiday special. One of the most significant traditions is the sacrificial ceremony, where families prepare to sacrifice a sheep, goat, or cow in remembrance of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.
The sacrifice ceremony is an important part of the holiday and is usually performed early in the morning after the special Eid prayer. Visitors can observe this ritual and learn about its deep cultural and religious significance. However, some others may be sensitive to such sight.
The days leading up to Eid al-Adha are also filled with preparation and excitement and not just choas. Families come together to clean and decorate their homes, shop for new clothes, and buy ingredients for special meals. Markets and streets are bustling with activity as people prepare for the celebration. As a Tourist, you can join in the festive atmosphere by exploring local markets, where you can see the wide variety of spices, fruits, and sweets that are essential to Moroccan cuisine.
During Eid al-Adha, sharing and community are at the heart of the celebrations. Families and friends gather to share meals, and it is common for people to give portions of the sacrificial meat to those in need. This sense of generosity and community spirit is evident throughout the holiday. Visitors can experience Moroccan hospitality firsthand by being invited to join a family for a meal or by participating in community events.
Enjoy The Chaos
Sometimes you can find enjoyment in chaos. Morocco during Eid al-Adha is full of chaos, and you'll definitely feel confused at the beginning. However, if you want to truly experience life as a local, we recommend you visit a livestock market in Morocco a few days before the Eid. You'll be stuck in the crowds, you'll encounter a lot of dust, and you may even get sunburned if it's a hot day. But it will definitely be a unique experience for you.
Walking around, looking at sheep, and watching Moroccans bargaining over them can be a funny sight. Seeing sheep on motorcycles is undoubtedly amusing. Souks might actually be the best place to interact with locals during Eid al-Adha, and you may even learn new skills, like how to identify a healthy sheep.
However, you need to do it safely. Souks can be very crowded, and it's easy to get lost in them. They might be full of pickpockets. On hot days, the sun can be strong on your skin, and if you have asthma, you'll probably want to avoid these types of souks as they're usually full of dust. The best way to experience these atmospheres is with a local guide.
In conclusion, Eid Al-Adha is the worst time to visit Morocco in my opinion.
This holiday can definitely be chaotic and challenging for tourists due to the hustle and bustle of preparations and celebrations rituals. However, it also offers a unique cultural experience. If you choose to visit during this time, be prepared for some inconveniences but also look forward to witnessing local traditions and enjoying special Moroccan dishes.
Don't forget to check out these guides. Your trip to Morocco will be memorable if you are equipped with enough knowledge on how to navigate this country like a local.
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