travel in Morocco during Ramadan
A litle history
Every year for a month (dates vary), all Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan which is the ninth month of the lunar year, adopted by the Islamic chronology. Fasting begins at the onset of the moon and lasts twenty to nine or thirty days. Nearly 70% of the five million Muslims in France say they observe the ritual of fasting. Abroad, by country, Ramadan is more or less scrupulously respected. Between sacrifice and celebration, we invite you to better understand one of the five pillars of Islam.
The fast of Ramadan fourth pillar of Islam
First a little history. Fasting is one of the five pillars (Arkan) of Islam, with the profession of faith (shahada), alms (zakat), prayer (salat) and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj). It is prescribed the most followed by Muslims, the identity marker par excellence. Fasting is compulsory from the age of puberty, except for pregnant women, the sick and travelers should make up the days of Ramadan broken under alms form or a new fasting.
This religious practice is much stricter than the Catholic Lent ends at noon, as the Ramadan fast lasts from sunrise to sunset and forces to abstain from food, drink, tobacco, perfumes and relationships sexual. The spiritual exercise that is fasting must demonstrate to man his ability to forego for a time which seems indispensable to him.
But like any ritual practice in Islam, fasting is not only an act of submission, it allows man to attain piety, to achieve spiritually and reduce its selfish instinct. It was not until nightfall that the prohibitions fall, then we can eat and drink until the white thread is distinguished from dawn the black thread of the night.
The lunar calendar
Ramadan is, in fact, the name of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, such as January or March in the Gregorian calendar. This calendar begins in the year 622 of the Christian era, when Muhammad left Mecca for Medina, is the Hegira (Arabic for the exodus, departure). But it has been used only a decade later, in 632. The year of the Hijrah is a lunar year, ie according to the revolutions of the moon around the earth. Each month - an average of twenty-nine or thirty days - begins when the crescent of the new moon becomes visible. So a year has twelve lunar months, which is equivalent to about 354.3 days. As the lunar year of the Muslim calendar does not coincide with the solar calendar, the month of Ramadan moves each year 10:00 to 12:00 days behind the Western calendar and can fall in winter than in summer.
In most Muslim countries, the holy month traditionally begins the day after the appearance of the new moon. The first day is determined during the "night of the doubt" (Leilat e-shek), during which we observe the appearance of the new moon. There may be some small nuances appear between different Islamic calendars in different countries and their geographical situations. Several reasons. In the first place, the absence of an international standard that can confirm the birth of the new moon, so the use of different calculation methods for the collection of the crescent, finally, due to inclement weather that can hit a place where you proceeds this perception. This is the sighting of the crescent is therefore necessary to determine the beginning of the fasting..
What is celebrated during the month of Ramadan?
Ramadan is a holy month: the revelation. It is, in fact, during this month (the twenty-seventh night, more accurately) that the first verses of the Koran, the sacred book of Islam, were transmitted to the prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel. Since Ramadan is a period of individual and collective meditation, prayer and abstinence which commemorates the revelation to the Prophet. But for Muslims, Ramadan is not only a month of fasting, piety and prayer is also a month of friendliness and fun. This is an opportunity for family reunions and solidarity. To get an idea, we can say that in some Arab countries, it's like Christmas in the West, except that it takes place every night!
Families and friends visit and watch late night. From sunset to sunrise, the night life is very intense and then offers an unusual sight for the traveler. For a month, every night, a collective rite takes place, family and friends gather around the table in a half-pious atmosphere, half-festive fragrant spices and mint tea. We usually cook a bit more than for the occasion and everyone is welcome, starting with neighbors, Muslims or not, taking part in the festival. We dutifully eat dates to break the fast and chorba in Algeria, in Morocco harira (the name differs depending on the country), rich and nourishing soup made of peeled tomatoes, onions, chickpeas, small pieces of meat, and spices like cinnamon, caraway and coriander especially.
To extend the evening, it is also found around the saffa, meal accompanied with sugar and raisins. The following day the alarm occurs before sunrise (about 5:30 in France in autumn). The end of Ramadan, it is marked by three days of festivities to celebrate the breaking of the fast is Eid El Fitr (breaking the fast in Arabic) which this year begins on 1 October (day near ). During the three days of Eid, it is customary to make one visit to the parents, the sick, the elderly and friends. After chorba and harira of Ramadan, then up pastries for Eid El Fitr (before the sheep for Eid El Kebir). More than a lunar calendar, a culinary calendar!
Travel and Ramadan
If you intend to leave during the month of Ramadan in a Muslim country, know that during this period, life has changed, times are different and everything runs in slow motion. However, each country does not practice this religious obligation with the same intensity. In most of them, most restaurants and some shops are closed part of the day (at least at lunchtime), but however open from 17 am up until the morning (for restaurants !). Outside the tourist areas, it may be difficult to find a restaurant open except in major international hotels, so be sure to inquire on site or at the tourist offices.
By late afternoon, it is a sight more individuals who offer to travelers. People seated before their meal await the signal for the end of the fast. It is often difficult to eat if it is too late. From there, the animation in the streets again and continues late into the night. Please note that during Ramadan, banks, post offices and airlines change their opening hours. Establishments close early and some reopen in the evening. This period can be interesting for the traveler since it calls for a more sociological approach of the country, including participating in a breaking of fast or by asking people about their religion.
There are however a few avoid behaviors that hold primarily of common sense and above all respect for the other. If no obligation incumbent on travelers in Muslim countries, it is preferable to avoid eating on the street, as well as smoking in places where there are a lot of people, especially if you are a woman (that is considered a worse). Indeed, this can be interpreted as a provocation by some residents that fasting makes sometimes aggressive. Of course, you remain the sole judge of what looks good to you or not. Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt, no specific recommendations except those just mentioned are not respected.
But if you go in Saudi Arabia during this period, you should know that the non-Muslim foreigners, residents or travelers, will face deportation if they eat, drink or smoke in public places, in the streets and on workplaces. Measures such as the abrogation of labor contracts and the expulsion of the Kingdom will be taken by the competent authorities against those not complying with these instructions.
Nevertheless, this period, which hosts many fewer tourists than usual, is the opportunity to discover or learn more about the Muslim culture and why not, to take part around a large table!
