The “Great Feast” (or “Eid-Al-Adha”, “Mutton Feast”) is the most important Muslim celebration, experienced with deep participation throughout Morocco and in other Islamic countries.
Article edited by Milena Marchioni, journalist and family travel blogger, founder of the blog www.bimbieviaggi.it and of the Facebook community "Globetrotter Families", specialized in trips for children and trips for women |
What to do in Morocco on festivity days: Aïd-al-Kébir with the family
The “Great Feast” (or “Eid-Al-Adha”, “Mutton Feast”) is the most important Muslim celebration, experienced with deep participation throughout Morocco and in other Islamic countries. These are three days of celebrations that involve all the local communities, in the cities and also in the Moroccan desert: those who travel in this period can live a unique and genuine experience, perhaps deciding to live it in close contact with local families.
What to do in Morocco: the origins of the Great Feast
The Aïd-al-Kébir was created to celebrate the famous passage, contained in both the Bible and the Koran, in which God asks the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) for a sacrifice as a gesture to testify to his obedience. Abraham, who had decided to sacrifice his son, is stopped by the Archangel Gabriel, as God accepts that a ram be sacrificed in his place. The Great Feast, established by the Prophet Muhammad, therefore wants to enhance the gesture of maximum devotion and submission to the divine.
In addition to moments of celebration and sharing of conviviality, it is obviously also a moment of reflection and prayer for people of Muslim religion, with the aim of strengthening the faith, seeking forgiveness and making good propositions.
It is precisely in conjunction with this Great Feast that the famous Pilgrimage to Mecca takes place: those who cannot participate compensate with the great celebrations that take place in every city or village, starting with the ritual of the ram, which sees the entire family.
A bit like what happens during our Christmas holidays, during Aïd-al-Kébir in Morocco we dress up in traditional Moroccan clothes, spend a lot of time together, give gifts to the children and eat with the family , enjoying all the traditional meals.
What to see in Morocco: Aïd-al-Kébir with the family
The duration of the celebration can change from country to country and does not have a fixed date, similarly to other Muslim celebrations: in 2024, Aïd-al-Kébir in Morocco will be held on 16 and 17 June, but activities will stop for 3 days, to allow family celebrations.
Travelers who love local culture may decide to take a trip to Essaouira during the days of the "Big Feast" and spend a day with a local Berber family. In these parts, in fact, hospitality is a shared tradition, which can be experienced at any time of the year, but which during such an important anniversary takes on a deeper meaning, because it allows you to share with the local people a very significant moment for Moroccan families.
In fact, already in the days before the party, they start to tidy up the house, buy the food and ingredients for the meals to prepare and maybe some new clothes to wear on the holiday days, as well as gifts for the little ones. On the public holiday, families gather in mosques or in open spaces for morning prayer, then return home, take part in the mutton ritual and share food with the family and even with the poorest people.
Imagine seeing the women busy preparing meals, while the children play in the courtyard, surrounded by scampering chickens: you too could find yourself playing the game of the week on the sand, or running dragging a string with a noisy empty sardine can attached . Atmospheres of other times, in which life in the open air is always seasoned with a sparkling creativity in inventing new games with simple objects but always full of magic in the eyes of a child.
Live Eid-al-Kébir at Ranch Diabat Essaouira
During the Mutton Feast the Ranch De Diabat will be closed only in the morning of the first day, however open from 3pm and give continuity to its activities. Erika will be able to help you plan a day of celebration to spend with a Berber family, to live an authentic and unforgettable experience.
If you can stay a few days in Essaouira, don't miss some of the activities we have described in this article:
10 family activities in Essaouira https://ranchdediabat.com/en/blog/35/10-family-activities-in-essaouira
N.B.: even in Berber villages the ritual of animal sacrifice still continues today, so it is good to know that this is a delicate moment that could offend our sensitivity. The advice, if we fear that we are not predisposed to seeing this moment, is to participate exclusively in the subsequent family celebrations. Discovering authentic Morocco is an unforgettable experience, take this opportunity to learn about the traditions and culture of this splendid Country.
Milena Marchioni
