Culture

Main Info:

Morocco has a numerous amount of Berber tribes. They speak various Berber languages, which together form a branch of the Afro-Asiatric language family.

The totally dominating religion of Morocco is Islam, in the Sunni variant. Christianity is present, with about 100,000 followers. Judism also still exist in Morocco, with about 5,000 folowers.

A married woman must get her husband's permissinon before seeking a job. Most working women are in textiles and light industry. Other females are housekeepers. These women are usually uneducated, illiterate, and unmarried.

According to Islamic law men are allowed to have more than one wife. However, most moroccan men are embracing the western point of view on the issue and are limiting themselves to one wife. 

Children are considered good luck and are adored in Morocco. Moroccans also belive that children are the primary reason for both marriage and a women's existence. 

The standard of the Moroccan educational program has come a long way but is still far away from being accomplished. The literacy rate is still low, the acces to public schools is limited or non-existing in many places, and the universities produce candidates which still have problems finding decent work.  

General Attitudes:
Moroccans value their family, honor, dignity, generosity, hospitality, and self-control. A calm attitude gains the respect of other people.

Personal Appearance:
The major clothing worn by Moroccans is the djelleba, a hooded caftan worn by both the men and the women. Moroccans believe that it’s important to be neat, look nice, and be dressed to fit the occasion they are attending so that they can gain and be treated with the respect of others. Normally, women cover their heads and faces with scarves, but sometimes they don’t. When entering the mosque, a type of church, Moroccans wear clothing that covers their entire body, except for their heads and hands.

Greetings:
Moroccans generally greet each other with a handshake and if they’re friends, they ask each other how they’re doing. It’s common that men greet other men and women greet other women when passing each other on the street.

Gestures:
Moroccans believe that it’s impolite to pass items, handshake or eat with their left hands, so they do these things with either their right hands or both hands. They also believe that it’s impolite to point at another person with a finger, or to show them the soles of your shoes.

Visiting:
Staying in close contact with friends and relatives is considered necessary to keep a strong relationship. Guests please their hosts by complimenting them on their house. Men and women hardly ever socialize with each other when they go visiting. Refusing refreshments offered by the hosts is considered rude, unless they’re refused before they’re offered. Milk, dates, and mint tea are considered as a sign of hospitality when served to visitors.

Eating:
Moroccans eat with their fingers from one main dish, and eat only from the part of the dish that’s directly in front of them. In most urban and rural areas, the main meal of the day is eaten together by the family; the attendants of this meal are expected to wash their hands before and after this meal. It’s considered rude if guests finish their meals before the hosts do; this could mean that the guests thought that the food tasted bad.

Dating and Marriage:
In rural areas, young men and women usually don’t meet their future husbands/wives until they’re engaged. When a couple is engaged, the groom pays the bride’s father or oldest brother enough money to pay for her wedding expenses. This payment stops many men from marrying because they can’t afford it. Most women get married when they’re in their twenties. Weddings show a new bond between families and are elaborated celebrated, and usually lasts two days.

Recreation:
Soccer is the most popular sport, but many Moroccans enjoy basketball and beach volleyball. Some other activities include
visiting friends, relaxing in coffee houses (men only), and going to the beach.

Commerce:
A market is held weekly in every town; it’s called a souk,
This is often the only source for items like food, clothes,
crafts, house-hold items, and services like hair-cutting for rural people.