The Culture of Morocco

The Culture of Morocco

Morocco traditions 

Morocco is a North African country that exhibits many European cultural qualities than any of her neighboring African nations. This makes it easier and better for tourists to visit the nation. In Morocco, there is a traditional way of life in addition to what is found in other countries. Everyone who enters the country should follow Moroccan etiquette. When you understand the people's mentality, you may better grasp the Moroccan culture, which is somewhat unfamiliar.
Inclination to strike up a conversation about a multitude of subjects is a well-known Moroccan trait. They can't resist talking about their personal life, their career, and the lives of others, as well as their country. This society loves to chitchat and has no shame about this national identity. Religion is the only topic that might not be discussed. Despite the Islamic faith being considered shrewd by Moroccans like other Muslims, it is not open to criticism. It might injure the Moroccan, therefore causing disputes, if people are reluctant to discuss other religions. Even if they find them peculiar, Moroccans don't like to discuss other religions. They expect that others do the same.
The latest United Nations data projections determine that the current population of Morocco is 37,470,691.  U.S. government agencies estimate that 34.6 million people live in Morocco. According to the U.S. government, less than 0.1 percent of the citizen population identifies as Shia Muslim, while 99.9 percent identifies as Sunni Muslim. Christians, Jews, and Bahais make up less than 1 percent of the population, according to U.S. government estimates. According to Jewish community leaders, there are an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 Jews in Casablanca, of whom 2,500 reside there. Christian citizens, according to citizen Christian community leaders, are scattered throughout the country, with a range of 2,000 to 6,000 estimated. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, in contrast, estimates that there are 25,000 Christian citizens in the country. A major media outlet has confirmed that there are between 8,000 Christian citizens in Morocco and that “thousands” of citizens have converted to Protestant churches.
The lifestyle of Arabs is often different and often found enveloped with some mysterious facts. As a result, people often find these people mystic and sometimes offbeat. But in reality, these people are truly a friend in heart; There is one thing that defines Moroccans' hospitality: their sincerity when meeting visitors, Moroccans always welcome them with warmth and affection. It is essential to note that bringing an empty hand to Morocco is not allowed. Thus, you may express your appreciation for an invitation by bringing a small gift or fruit basket. they love people and greet people with the best hospitality. However, if someone expresses disrespect in an unfriendly gesture, these people take it as an insult and they become aggressive.

Places of Worship: 

Moroccans regard the sanctity of worship sites as a serious matter, and foreign visitors should respect this. For Muslims, mosques are places of worship, while Christians regard churches as such.
The majority of Moroccans are Muslim, practicing the Sunni variant of Islam. Other religions practiced in Morocco include Christianity, Judaism, and Baha'i – a 19th-century religion that evolved from Babism. With Islam being the dominant religion of the country, Mosques are considered to be of great importance, and every settlement, village, town, and the city has at least one of these venerated places of worship.
There are around 60 Christian places of worship registered in Morocco, consisting of 40 Catholic churches, a dozen Protestant ones, and a handful of Orthodox ones.

Tipping etiquette in Morocco

In Morocco, tipping is standard practice at cafés and restaurants (1dh per person); museums and monuments (3-5dh); car guardians (5dh); petrol station attendants (3-5dh); and bus porters (5dh). It is also common to tip bus drivers (5dh). A tip is always appreciated by taxi drivers, but it is not expected.

Interested to know about Ramadan? 

Ramadan is a holy month for Morocoons in which people celebrate the month with friends and relatives. During this month, Moroccans stay awake at night and spend time in prayer and spiritual activities. Also, they donate to charity and indulge in the renewal of relationships as well as sharing love and affection.
If you're an enthusiast of late-night dining, you'll be pleased to know that some restaurants and big stores are open from 6 pm to 1 am. Morocco comes to life under a dark sky illuminated by a multitude of lanterns as the evening wears on. People flock to the streets, delicious food fills the air, and charmers are eager to enthrall everyone with all their flair as a result of the snake charmers.

Other things to keep in mind about the culture of Morocco:

Gestures

It is considered rude to beckon someone by using your pointer finger to sweep your hand downward and toward you. “Thank you” or “peace be with you” are the meanings of placing your hand on your heart.

Punctuality

It is culturally acceptable for Moroccans to be late for appointments or meetings, and this tendency is referred to as “Moroccan time.” Expect most people to show up 30 minutes after the time you planned.

Being too polite

It's always important to behave politely while touring in a foreign country, but being overly polite or friendly can sometimes be misunderstood as an invitation to have a relationship. Unfortunately, this is often the case if you're a woman tourist in Morocco. Moroccans, generally speaking, tend to be more aloof, so your kindness may be mistaken for a romantic gesture.