Colors of Fes - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

If you are going to Fez, you should understand that Morocco is a Muslim country. Almost 99% of the population professes Islam in the city. All religious holidays are celebrated on a much larger scale than secular ones. In addition, there are a number of unwritten but intuitive rules for citizens here. Foreigners should also stick to them if they want the most comfortable vacation. Knowing Spanish or French will help you more than English in Fez. Unfortunately, even not all representatives of the tourism sector speak English here. Arabic is the main language of Morocco. Many locals only know it.

If someone from the city begins to ask you about the health of your relatives, the status of your girlfriend or whether you have children, you should not consider him a violator of boundaries of private life. Local residents do not take into account the fact that it is customary to speak on such topics only between well-known people in the Western world. Such questions and answers are a sign of courtesy and goodwill in Fez. Be ready for the importunity of street sellers. You should refuse them calmly but categorically. Otherwise, you will definitely buy something completely unnecessary.

Please note that any explicit demonstration of feelings, especially between an unmarried girl and a guy are considered indecent in Morocco. Even being in the same room alone with a person of the opposite sex is already quite ambiguous behavior for local residents. Public hugs and kisses are unacceptable here. It's better not to wear open clothes for women here. Otherwise, you will see the condemning looks of the citizens. If you do not want to stand out too much from the crowd, it is better to abandon the mini and generally short skirts. It will be superfluous to wear clothes with cleavage. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Many local women wear a headscarf and a long dress called djellaba. However, women often wear quite familiar pants and even shorts. You can meet women, dressed according to European business fashion but without excessive exposure of the body in Fez. A man with a man or a woman with a woman exchange kisses on the cheeks and shake hands when they meet. A man and a woman simply confine themselves to a handshake.

If someone invites you to visit, it will be impolite and even offensive to refuse. Great honor and respect will always be shown for the guests in any home. If you are offered tea, please note that you will have to drink at least three cups. You can only give up the fourth not at the risk of being impolite. Tea can be offered even in a small shop, hoping to sell more. Refusal will be acceptable in this case. But the seller will still pretend to be offended. If you are going to a meeting in a cafe, on a visit or on your business, remember that no one is in a hurry in Fez. If you ask the locals to do something faster, you will only get condemning looks. Take your time and enjoy the moment.

You will be served special rose water to wash your hands before dinner. Do not take food with your left hand. This rule applies not only to food but to anything at all. You also should not give any item to a local resident with your left hand. It is considered "unclean" here. Please note that local residents rely on tips from foreigners, even on small occasions. Did the child show you a beautiful view of the mosque? Remember that he expects a few coins for this. Did you take a picture of the old man in the background of a beautiful sunset? Don't be surprised at the request to pay. Please note that it is forbidden to take pictures of the police and military in Fez.

The International Festival of Sacred Music takes place in the city in June. Performers from all over the world arrive here at this time. All residents of the city go to the streets on the day of the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan. Also, Eid al-Adha and Milad un Nabi are celebrated on a large scale here. Charity dinners and performances by local musicians and actors are held throughout the city during the celebration of Ashura, the feast of the poor and children. The traditional New Year on the first of January is almost not celebrated in Fez. There is the first day of Muharram instead of it here. It does not have a specific date like all Muslim holidays. It depends directly on the lunar calendar.