Christmas in Morocco and other Morocco Nightlife Tips

Little Background
The prophet Jesus (pbuh) is as important as the prophet Muhammed in Islam. Jesus (pbuh) will be responsible Two of the longer suras in the Quran are named "Imran" (father of Mary) and "Maryam" (Mary) and is referred to throughout the Quran.

"And she (Mary) who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our Spirit and made her and her son a sign for the nations"„
—Qur'an, 21:91

So, Jesus (pbuh) and Mary. High regard and respect.

Moving On

This being said - none of the prophets are worshipped in Islam and their birthdays are observed warily (if at all), some calling observing any prophet's birthday (including Muhammed's) a form of rejected idol-worship.

Christmas, then, statistically doesn't get any special observance here in Morocco except from the mostly ex-patriate Christian community and will therefore pass without any grand scale public celebration.

If you wanted to have a peaceful Christmas, you will certainly have it here in Morocco. There will be no transportation related probems until a bit closer to the New Year of 2007, which coincides with the Eid)

For travelling christians: You are free to practice your religion, bring a bible with you, etc. (but do not attempt to convert which will end with you in the hoosegow.) There are large functioning churches which are also schools; so, if Mass is important, there is the Church of Saint Francois d'Assise in Fes. Listed from the Catholic Church in Morocco...

Casablanca
Norte Dame de Lourdes Cathedral
Church of Anfa-Maarif
Church of Carmel Saint Joseph
Church of Christ Roi
Church of Saint Francois d'Assise
Church of Saint Jacques

Rabat
Saint Pierre Cathedral
Church of Saint Pie X
Church of Saint Francois d'Assise
Norte Dame de La Paix

Tangier
Holy Spirit (Parroquia del Espiritu Santo)
Notre Dame de l'Assomption

Agadir
Church of Saint Anne

Marrakech
Church of Saints Martyrs

Meknes
Notre Dame des Olivers

Fes
Church of Saint Francois d'Assise

El Jadida
Church of Saint Bernard

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Theme: Other
Directions: For accommodations -

1) go here: www.triotours.com - The King of Moroccan Websites run by non-tourist industry cats.
Hotel accommodations

2) then look around online to see reviews - starting with Virtual Tourist...

Nightlife Spot: Morocco

Not to self-incriminate - but before I left Casa last I went around with my Moroccan mates and none of the pubs (even the funky ones) were serving alcohol out of respect for Ramadan (about a week before). If that's the case for the Eid as well, you may be SOL there. But hopefully, that may not be an issue for you, anyway - and if not, the clubs were still really fun in a cinematically sleazy way that my inner-gangster responds to.

Some of my Fassi friends and family celebrate New Year's in a supah sweet way that reminds me of the best of alcohol free junior high school parties. Friendly, loving, flirty, wild dancing, popular music.

If you stay up for fajr prayer time, you can watch the sacrifice of any number of sheep and be witness to something that is quite central to Islamic society...

I would say that would make your New Year's quite different.

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Directions: See exact dates for holidays under Islamic Holidays

Nightlife Spot: All of Casa's yours for the Taking

Honest to Pete, I would actually choose Casa for a stag party or a New Year's Drinking Party. Why? First, a big selection of very swank bars. The places are swinging with sha'abi music and get the hookah set up and the drinks going...

You will most likely meet Moroccans in these bars who have plenty of their own dough and love making friends and scoring decent prostitutes. Your new friends have experience procuring for themselves and will not only help you negotiate your price but take you to bars that have the level of exoticness you want. Belly dancers, pop/latin/techno...

Thrill seeking: High speed cruising in Casa - with Moroccan friends blasting music they love. And the streets are huge and empty at night - imagine renting a convertible (and a driver) and just cruising with your new friends. Clubbers are proud of their hum-vees. Your girl company might not like the convertible on account of exposure. Ok. Go with the Hum-vee.

Exotic: At the same time, you will still feel you aren't in the UK. And it's not just the odd pocket of soul and mind crushing poverty you hopefully won't have to have cut into your buzz, or the pokey donkey cart filled with fruit that you narrowly miss while driving - no. It's the sense that out there - beyond the Big City borders of Casa/Marrakesh/Agadir - it is the sense that Morocco really doesn't want your way of life. I say that without a shred of antagonism. I mean real vertigo. It's like being in a horror film thinking about what lurks out there. Maybe that 16 year old prostitutes family from the mountains, the mysterious Ansar al Mehdi and what is being discussed about declining morals in the country at a hidden late night mosque, the unformed armies of the poor in the dark. It is a rush.

Don't worry about "the large group of White males, possibly enjoying the odd beer" - just stay away from the well hidden large groups of brown Moroccan children, possibly enjoying the odd glue rag.

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Theme: Nightclub
Website: p.s was this bad advice?
Other Contact: p.p.s... this was bad advice.

Nightlife Spot: Old medinas

When your only company will be cats and whoever is lurking the deep dark shadows of the cave like medina...

...this is not necessarily safe advice - but I'll say that it is easily the most magical experience within the medina for me....

Fes being the greatest and then follow your instincts with the others...

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Nightlife Spot: Your house or your friend's house

Without giving away too much, the ritual night, or LEELA is a spiritual journey that involves music, trance, food, incense and wouldn't be at all out of place with the idea of an event in late 60's early 70's.

You will organize this or have it organized.

You have never seen anything like it and you won't afterwards.

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Theme: Live Music
Dress Code: Dress comfortably and respectably. Loose cotton shirts and pants.
Address: Dealer's Choice (wherever you want)
Other Contact: Gnawa, Jilali, Aissawa, Hamadsha

Nightlife Spot: Follow the sound of happy people...

Whether it is a wedding, birthday, circumcision or someone coming or going from Morocco - the parties in Morocco always seem to feel to be powered by love lightning and nuclear happiness. Crash that party and see if I'm right - you can only be turned away, but baby - I doubt you will be.

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Theme: People Watching
Dress Code: The better you dress the most easily you will blend in (if that's even an issue)
...anyway, it's the right thing to do, you bad-ass party crasher, you...
Directions: Follow your ears, ask around...
Summer time you can't miss a wedding...
Website: Ask around
Other Contact: Follow the loud drumming sound

Nightlife Spot: Outside

There is enough barren, unpopulated and undeveloped Morocco for you to find a nice spot for you and your honey to get it on.
Remember stars? You probably saw some in "E.T" and remember about them in romantic poetry.

Well, heavens riches are still out there...waiting for you and your love(s)...

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Theme: Adult Spot
Dress Code: Bring a blanket - and remember, while this sexy and highly recommended, it is illegal. I think.
Address: A private place in the nature

Always concerned about getting holiday drinking screwed up?
Here's a list of the all the holidays. And do a google search - it's way more helpful than my picture here...

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