Local People and Culture In Morocco - Full Documentary

Sep 8, 2020
Local people & culture in Morocco, Moroccan People, Customs and Traditions in Morocco, Morocco travel guide, Morocco tourism & vacations, Morocco travel vlog
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Moroccan People, Culture , Customs and Traditions

Morocco is a land with an expansive history of customs and traditions. The country is worldly renowned for its incredible hospitality and its impressive blend of cultures and religions. It is also a land of extraordinary contrasts and remarkable diversity. What could be more emblematic of Moroccan people, customs and cultural heritage than a traditional Moroccan wedding? Moroccan weddings are an elaborate affair that celebrates unity, love, happiness, and prosperity. It is a vibrant commemoration of sanctity and virtue that engages all five senses, through the colors, the music, the clothing, and the food.

Moroccan cuisine is worldly renowned for its intense and diverse flavors, colorful blends and artistic presentation, so naturally when it comes to weddings, the food is just that much more scrumptious and exceptional. Hosting an unforgettable feast entails opulent displays of splendor and sophisticated taste, and this translates to the clothing. People wear their most luxurious and extravagant frocks, with exquisite beaded caftans and fascinating sequined takshitas in vibrant colors.

Weddings aside, the variety in traditional Moroccan clothing is specific to each occasion, based on how casual or formal it is. Djellabas are the most relaxed form of traditional clothing, you can find people sporting while running for errands or while visiting family and friends. Whereas caftans and jabadors can be worn for religious holidays or engagement parties and takshitas are reserved for more formal settings.

Moroccan Cuisine
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With centuries of trade, conquest and immigration, Moroccan food preparation and consumption habits have been frequently shaped and reshaped. The region takes pride in its culinary scene with its exquisite flavors and tantalizing aromas. Geographic diversity and climate greatly allow for the cultivation of an impressive range of foods and ingredients.

Because of its strategic location, Morocco has been part of the spice trade route in the past. This marked a truly defining period in the history of North Africa and Morocco in particular. It also helped broaden the country’s culinary scope to incorporate new ingredients, herbs and spices that have now become a staple in Moroccan cuisine.

The rich history of Morocco, from the indigenous Berbers to the nomadic Arabs, the Phoenicians, and the Romans, is emulated in the gastronomy. Moroccan people may differ in terms of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, or political affiliation, but they do share an avid appreciation for food and cooking.

Understanding the food culture is a great way to see how people of different regions come together, share ideas and contribute to the creation of new dishes, meals, and cooking traditions. Tajine, Couscous, Pastilla, and Harira are testimony of regional influences combined with ancient cooking traditions.

A lot of Morocco’s staple dishes, lamb tajine with dried apricots or couscous with caramelized onions and raisins, for example, consist of blending sweet and savory flavors together, a tradition that goes back to Ancient Roman cuisine. When you try to dissect the history of any traditional Moroccan dish, you will find hints of Sicilian, Maltese, Greek, and Arab influences.

This makes it a bit challenging to pinpoint what belongs to whom. Nonetheless, whether it’s street food, a lavish restaurant or a homemade meal, you can expect unctuous dishes full of flavor and panache that will inevitably make you fall in love with the region and its cuisine.

Moroccan Music Scene
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The multi-ethnic background of Moroccan culture cannot be more evident than in the country’s musical landscape and dance forms. Despite the Western music scene’s heavy impact on contemporary Moroccan artists, there has been a recent yearning for more traditional and authentic Moroccan music.

This longing to revisit one’s history is encapsulated in the revival of Gnaoua, Berber, Rai, and Andalusian music through annual concerts and festivals dedicated to these ethnic genres. A lot of young musicians and artists have also contributed to this revival by performing covers of traditional songs using more modern-fitting rhythms and instruments to appeal to the youth.

Like a lot of customs and traditions, Moroccan music also varies depending on the geographic location of each region. Andalusian music, a mixture of Spanish and Arab influences, dates back to the 9th century. It’s considered to be Morocco’s classical music, and it’s generally played on special occasions and national celebrations like Eid.

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