Rabat – When Eid Al Fitr is around the corner, we already know the excitement that is in store. 

In Morocco, Eid is all about enjoying family gathering and the sweets we finally get to taste in the morning after a month of fasting. 

The Eid morning

The moment you first open your eyes on Eid morning feels unlike any other. After a month of Ramadan routines, waking up on Eid brings a mix of excitement, weird feelings, and a different kind of energy. You can almost smell Eid in the air.

The first step? Greeting your family and wishing them “Eid Mubarak!” Sounds simple, right? Somehow, a wave of shyness hits out of nowhere. 

Do we normally feel awkward around our parents? Not at all. So where does this sudden nervousness come from? Nobody knows.

After surviving that strange moment, it’s time to get dressed. Eid outfits usually mean traditional Moroccan attire adorned at its best. People often wear “jellaba,” “jabadour,” “Caftan,” or “Gandoura.” 

Men head to the “msalla,” an open space dedicated to the special Eid prayer, while women may choose to join or stay back.

The Eid breakfast

Finally, the most anticipated part of the day: breakfast. Moroccan mothers proudly bring out the Eid sweets they’ve been hiding for days. 

Atay (Moroccan mint tea) leads the table, accompanied by “Feqqas,” “Ghriba,” “Richbond,” “msemen,” “Beghrir,” and a variety of cakes.

Even then, confusion strikes. After fasting for a month, we sometimes panic – can we really eat normally now? Yes. Yes, we can. We’re no longer fasting.

And then comes that moment that makes us panic, especially when we’re younger. The house turns into a buzzing call center, with parents calling and receiving calls to wish “Eid Mubarak.”

Everything seems fine until your mother suddenly hands you the phone. You’re expected to wish your aunt “Eid Mubarak” on the spot, with no warning. Suddenly you feel a mix of panic, shyness, and the hilarious pressure of the moment.

The Eid afternoon

Here comes the part of the day we all secretly dread: the Eid afternoon. You know it’s officially started when the slight boredom slowly sets in.

The festive energy begins to fade, and suddenly the house feels quiet. Some curl up for a nap, some pretend to sleep just to pass the time, while others grab the TV to fill the void.

One classic marker of this slow afternoon? An old Moroccan play featuring Mohammed El Jam and Nezha Regragi. Even today, its scenes are forever linked in our minds with the peculiar boredom of Eid afternoons.

But Eid isn’t over yet. Later in the day comes the part we actually look forward to: family gatherings. It’s the perfect moment to visit (or welcome) relatives, exchange cheerful “Eid Mubarak” wishes, and catch up with loved ones we don’t see every day.

And just like that, this is the Moroccan way of celebrating Eid.

Eid Mubarak!