The Celebration of Fire and Water - Ashura in Morocco
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The Celebration of Fire and Water - Ashura in Morocco If you're in Morocco on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharr am, you are sure to hear drums banging and see gangs of happy children rushing through the streets and alleyways with new toys generally used to make music and noise. This is just a part of the celebration of Ashura (which comes from the word 'ten' in Arabic since it's the 10th day of the first month on the Muslim calendar. Some call it the Islamic New Year, but it's more than that. It's a celebration of light and life, death and renewal, light and dark. For the past few years, it has been celebrated in November and December but since the Islamic calendar is lunar, each year it is ten or eleven days earlier (on the Gregorian calendar) than the year before. In most of the Arab world, Ashura is a time to remember the death of Hussein for the Shi'a and a day for celebrating the liberation of Moses from Egypt for the Sunni. For both it is a day of solemn fasting and prayers. The same is true in Morocco, but the shamanism and Judaism that Moroccan Islam was born in have reshaped the holiday into something more. In Morocco, Ashura is a day that celebrates life. It is a day when people throw water on one another after a night of bonfires and singing. Ashura is the day when the myth of Baba Aichour is celebrated. Baba Aichour is the Moroccan Santa Claus, and so, Ashura is almost like Christmas for children in Morocco. For days before and after the holy day, kids form makeshift bands that play celebratory songs on drums made of wood, pottery, and sheepskin. They travel through the streets performing for candy and coins. The noise reaches a crescendo on the night of the ninth day of Muharram when bonfires are lit in vacant lots and neighbors gather to share food and tea. In the poorer areas, people will light branches and wander through the streets chanting songs reserved for this holiday and at the neighborhood bonfires, you will often see people jumping over the flames in an effort to burn away evil spirits or free themselves of curses. This is considered to be the most auspicious time of the year to say your prayers. Fortune tellers called 'shawaafa' do a booming business during this time as young people try to understand their destiny and capture the love of their lives. Some go further and engage the help of witch doctors 'afikih' that work with djinn and magic. Some seek to cast spells and others to be free of them. The 'afikih' can help with both.
The Celebration of Fire and Water - Ashura in Morocco
The Celebration of Fire and Water - Ashura in…
The Celebration of Fire and Water - Ashura in Morocco
The Celebration of Fire and Water - Ashura in Morocco If you're in Morocco on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharr am, you are sure to hear drums banging and see gangs of happy children rushing through the streets and alleyways with new toys generally used to make music and noise. This is just a part of the celebration of Ashura (which comes from the word 'ten' in Arabic since it's the 10th day of the first month on the Muslim calendar. Some call it the Islamic New Year, but it's more than that. It's a celebration of light and life, death and renewal, light and dark. For the past few years, it has been celebrated in November and December but since the Islamic calendar is lunar, each year it is ten or eleven days earlier (on the Gregorian calendar) than the year before. In most of the Arab world, Ashura is a time to remember the death of Hussein for the Shi'a and a day for celebrating the liberation of Moses from Egypt for the Sunni. For both it is a day of solemn fasting and prayers. The same is true in Morocco, but the shamanism and Judaism that Moroccan Islam was born in have reshaped the holiday into something more. In Morocco, Ashura is a day that celebrates life. It is a day when people throw water on one another after a night of bonfires and singing. Ashura is the day when the myth of Baba Aichour is celebrated. Baba Aichour is the Moroccan Santa Claus, and so, Ashura is almost like Christmas for children in Morocco. For days before and after the holy day, kids form makeshift bands that play celebratory songs on drums made of wood, pottery, and sheepskin. They travel through the streets performing for candy and coins. The noise reaches a crescendo on the night of the ninth day of Muharram when bonfires are lit in vacant lots and neighbors gather to share food and tea. In the poorer areas, people will light branches and wander through the streets chanting songs reserved for this holiday and at the neighborhood bonfires, you will often see people jumping over the flames in an effort to burn away evil spirits or free themselves of curses. This is considered to be the most auspicious time of the year to say your prayers. Fortune tellers called 'shawaafa' do a booming business during this time as young people try to understand their destiny and capture the love of their lives. Some go further and engage the help of witch doctors 'afikih' that work with djinn and magic. Some seek to cast spells and others to be free of them. The 'afikih' can help with both.