Morocco observes many national and religious holidays. Eid El Kebir is one of those major and significant events that has been observed over hundreds of years. It commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son to God. It is celebrated around the 10th to the 13th days of the Islamic month of Du al-Hijjah.
As with most practices, Moroccans will throw their unique traditions on these events, too. In some cases, you will not know that a holiday is religious if you do not already have an idea about it. On the facade of it, it may not look religious at all. Eid al Adha (also Eid El Kebir) in Moroco is a 3 days
religious holiday. The religious part of it is done in the morning of day 1 by a special prayer at an open area (not a traditional mosque).
For some people, another part (the Pilgrimage - Hajj in arabic) takes place outside the country - in Mecca,Saudi Arabia. The rest and the last 2 days are more social in nature. One of the good things about The Feast of Sacrifice (Eid El Kebir) is that it is a time for forgiveness where people reconcile and agree to bury past greivances.
Modern Celebrations of Eid El Kebir in Morocco have not signicantly changed over many decades. It has always been marked by day 1 tea and cake breafast,family and friends visits for greetings exchange,kids gifts,morning prayer,the lamb sacrifice.Then the early morning lamb barbecue for the next 2 days.
A dying Eid tradition (may be already dead) was the afternoon horse race called Tbawreeda.
Watch this video below to get a real feel of life during Eid El Kebir in Morocco.
Eid al Adha in Moroco - The Feast of Sacrifice youtube video(If the video does not show properly, kindly refresh the page):
Visiting Morocco during Ramadan
Aid el Kebir Morocco (Eid al Adha)
Eid al Adha in Morocco - The Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al Adha)
When is Eid al Adha/Eid El kebir in Morocco - date
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