Holidays Around the World: Morocco

Morocco celebrates the Islamic holiday of Ramadan during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadan is a time for worship & contemplation, inner reflections, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset, focusing on prayer & spiritual growth during the daylight hours. at the end of each day, Muslims break their fast with a meal called the iftar. following the custom of Prophet Muhammad, the fast is often broken with dates, then followed by a prayer and dinner. Muslims also generally have a pre-fast meal, called the suhoor, which occurs before dawn.

the evening of the 23rd day of the month, or Laylat-al-Qadr ("the Night of Decree"), is a very special day in which all sins are forgiven and any good deed returned multi-fold. this night is believed to be the one on which Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Koran.

the day after Ramadan ends, Muslims celebrate a holiday called Id-al-Fitr, a three-day "Feast of Fast Breaking." during this time, gifts are exchanged, large meals consumed, and the company of family and friends enjoyed.