Morocco is a country with a multiethnic society and a rich culture, civilization, and etiquette. Throughout Moroccan history, Morocco has hosted many peoples, in addition to the indigenous Berbers, coming from the East (Phoenicians, Arabs), South (Sub-Saharan African), and North (Romans, Vandals, Andalousians both Muslims and Jewish). All of these have left an impact on the social structure of Morocco. It has also hosted many forms of belief, from Paganism, Judaism, Christianity to Islam. Each region possesses its own uniqueness, contributing to the national culture. Morocco has set among its top priorities, the protection of its diversity, and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
Fantazia
Fantazia is a traditional equestrian performance practiced during cultural festivals in Morocco,and occurs traditionally to close Berber wedding celebrations in Maghreb. Fantazia is an imported name, the actual traditional term used is "Game of gunpowder".
It consists of a group of horse riders, wearing traditional clothes and charging along a straight path at the same speed so as to form a line; at the end of the ride (about two hundred meters) all riders fire into the sky using old gunpowder guns. The difficulty of the performance is in synchronization during the acceleration and especially during firing so that one single shot is heard. The horse is referred to as a fantasia horse and is of the type called Barb. Gunpowder is called 'baroud', and the traditional gun is a 'moukahla', hence the name "lab el baroud" or "the gunpowder play".
The performance is inspired from historical wartime attacks of Berber and desert knights. Nowadays, Fantazia is considered as a cultural art and a form of martial art; it also symbolizes a strong relationship between the man and the horse, as well as an attachment to tradition.
Each region in Morocco has one or several fantasia groups, called serba, totaling thousands of horse riders nationwide.
The Kingdom of Morocco is renown for its pottery, covered with complex geometric, arabesque and beautiful, rich patterns. Moroccan art has been influenced by a diversity of cultures due to being occupied by Romans,Vandals, Visigoths, Byzantine Greeks ( 278AD to 429AD ) and the conquering Arabs who introduced their Islamic civilization in the late 7th century. The indigenous Berber tribes were generally converted to Islam around this time.The intricate hand-painted ceramics of Morocco usually reveal designs that have been influenced by Islamic culture. Some tribes in Morocco have been painting the same design for over 200 years.
As the “wild west” of the Islamic world, Morocco quickly became a haven for many dissidents, rebels and refugees from the eastern caliphate. Among these was Idris ibn Abdallah, who with the help of the local Awraba Berbers, founded the Idrisid Dynasty in 788. His son Idris II erected a splendid new capital at Fez and launched Morocco as a centre of learning and a major power. The Imperial city of Fez is one of the kingdom’s most beautiful places. It offers uniquely designed and colored Moroccan ceramics with an Islamic influence viewed in the intricate pattern, colors, design and production. For over six centuries Fez has proudly created the finest Moroccan pottery. Its beauty comes from the complex knowledge of geometry passed on from father to son. Fez is renowned for the choice of cobalt oxide that permits to obtain every shade of blue. Polychrome enameled ware is more respected in Morocco.
In 1660, Morocco came under the control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Muhammad—and rules Morocco to this day. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Morocco was one of the Barbary States, the headquarters of pirates who pillaged Mediterranean traders. Morocco was colonized by both the French and the Spanish.
The floral and geometric Moroccan designs are available in cobalt blue and multicolour. This highly decorative ceramic style was greatly influenced by the Moorish and Spanish culture. The main centers for ceramics are Safi, which produces pottery inlaid with metal , and Fez, which produces the very distinctive blue and white fassi pottery.
As the “wild west” of the Islamic world, Morocco quickly became a haven for many dissidents, rebels and refugees from the eastern caliphate. Among these was Idris ibn Abdallah, who with the help of the local Awraba Berbers, founded the Idrisid Dynasty in 788. His son Idris II erected a splendid new capital at Fez and launched Morocco as a centre of learning and a major power. The Imperial city of Fez is one of the kingdom’s most beautiful places. It offers uniquely designed and colored Moroccan ceramics with an Islamic influence viewed in the intricate pattern, colors, design and production. For over six centuries Fez has proudly created the finest Moroccan pottery. Its beauty comes from the complex knowledge of geometry passed on from father to son. Fez is renowned for the choice of cobalt oxide that permits to obtain every shade of blue. Polychrome enameled ware is more respected in Morocco.
In 1660, Morocco came under the control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Muhammad—and rules Morocco to this day. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Morocco was one of the Barbary States, the headquarters of pirates who pillaged Mediterranean traders. Morocco was colonized by both the French and the Spanish.
The floral and geometric Moroccan designs are available in cobalt blue and multicolour. This highly decorative ceramic style was greatly influenced by the Moorish and Spanish culture. The main centers for ceramics are Safi, which produces pottery inlaid with metal , and Fez, which produces the very distinctive blue and white fassi pottery.
Maghrebi tea culture (Arabic: الشاي - as-shāy, Maghrebi and Berber: اتاي - Ataí) is defined by the way tea (exclusively green tea) is prepared and consumed in the Maghreb, where it is widely consumed with food. The tradition has also spread throughout North Africa, parts of the Sahel, and southern Spain. Tea occupies a very important place in Moroccan culture and is considered an art form.
Maghrebi mint tea is a green tea with mint leaves.
Maghrebi-style mint tea is now commonly served all through the Maghreb (North Africa). It is served not only at mealtimes but all through the day, and it is especially a drink of hospitality, commonly served whenever there are guests. Unlike Maghreb food, cooked by women, this tea is traditionally a man's affair: prepared by the head of the family. It is served to guests, and it is impolite to refuse it.
Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are the countries where it is most often drunk.
Preparation
The method of preparation of atai is relatively complex and varies from region to region. It is normally sweeter in the north of Morocco than in the south, and in some places, pine nuts are added. In the winter, if mint is rare, sometimes leaves of wormwood (chiba or sheeba in dialectal Arabic) are substituted for (or used to complement) the mint, giving the tea a distinctly bitter flavor. Lemon Verbena (louiza in dialectal Arabic) is also used to give it a lemony flavor.
Mint tea being served. It is poured from a distance to produce a foam on the tea.
The typical green tea used is a gunpowder tea variety imported from China. A simple and practical method runs as follows:
In a teapot, combine two teaspoons of tea-leaf with half a litre of boiling water. Allow it to steep for at least fifteen minutes.
Without stirring, filter the mixture into a different stainless steel pot, so that the tea leaves and coarse powder are removed.
Add sugar (about one teaspoon per decilitre).
Bring to boil over a medium heat. This important step in the preparation process allows the sugar to undergo hydrolysis, giving the tea its distinctive taste.
If desired, add fresh mint leaves to the teapot or directly to the cup. Remember to remove the mint within two minutes, as it can give some people acid reflux.
Traditionally the tea is served three times, and the amount of time the tea has been steeping gives each of the three glasses of tea a unique flavor, described in this famous Algerian proverb:
The first glass is as gentle as life,
the second glass is as strong as love,
the third glass is as bitter as death
Maghrebi mint tea is a green tea with mint leaves.
Maghrebi-style mint tea is now commonly served all through the Maghreb (North Africa). It is served not only at mealtimes but all through the day, and it is especially a drink of hospitality, commonly served whenever there are guests. Unlike Maghreb food, cooked by women, this tea is traditionally a man's affair: prepared by the head of the family. It is served to guests, and it is impolite to refuse it.
Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are the countries where it is most often drunk.
Preparation
The method of preparation of atai is relatively complex and varies from region to region. It is normally sweeter in the north of Morocco than in the south, and in some places, pine nuts are added. In the winter, if mint is rare, sometimes leaves of wormwood (chiba or sheeba in dialectal Arabic) are substituted for (or used to complement) the mint, giving the tea a distinctly bitter flavor. Lemon Verbena (louiza in dialectal Arabic) is also used to give it a lemony flavor.
Mint tea being served. It is poured from a distance to produce a foam on the tea.
The typical green tea used is a gunpowder tea variety imported from China. A simple and practical method runs as follows:
In a teapot, combine two teaspoons of tea-leaf with half a litre of boiling water. Allow it to steep for at least fifteen minutes.
Without stirring, filter the mixture into a different stainless steel pot, so that the tea leaves and coarse powder are removed.
Add sugar (about one teaspoon per decilitre).
Bring to boil over a medium heat. This important step in the preparation process allows the sugar to undergo hydrolysis, giving the tea its distinctive taste.
If desired, add fresh mint leaves to the teapot or directly to the cup. Remember to remove the mint within two minutes, as it can give some people acid reflux.
Traditionally the tea is served three times, and the amount of time the tea has been steeping gives each of the three glasses of tea a unique flavor, described in this famous Algerian proverb:
The first glass is as gentle as life,
the second glass is as strong as love,
the third glass is as bitter as death
