Morocco's Eid al-Adha Celebrations: A Return to Tradition
This year, Moroccans are joyfully embracing the traditional ritual of sheep sacrifice during the celebration of Eid al-Adha, also known as Tabaski. Last year, King Mohammed VI made an unprecedented request for citizens to refrain from participating in the sacrifice, a move aimed at allowing the livestock population to recover and to mitigate the financial burden on families as sheep prices soared. This decision was exceptionally rare, having only been made three times in recent Moroccan history. While many faithful express relief at returning to this cherished tradition, the anticipated drop in livestock prices has not materialized, leaving many families still grappling with high costs.
On the streets of Casablanca, an air of tranquility permeates as the bustling traffic gives way to festive preparations for Eid al-Adha. The aroma of grilled meat wafts through the air as groups of young people gather around makeshift braziers, preparing sheep heads for cooking. Ayyoub, a 24-year-old, beams with happiness as he recounts his own experience of sacrificing a sheep early in the morning. "I feel very happy because my family is happy. Eid is a family celebration," he shares.
Having lost his father, Ayyoub is now responsible for the family expenses during this religious festival. This year, he was fortunate enough to secure a sheep through his family connections in the mountains, which he ordered three months in advance, allowing him to avoid inflated market prices. He paid 3,500 dirhams (approximately 340 euros) for his sheep, a significant reduction from the prices seen just a week prior, where some sheep were priced at nearly double that amount in Casablanca markets.
Despite the joys of the celebration, many families like Ayyoub's are still feeling the pinch of high costs. He remarks that although the availability of sheep has improved significantly, the prices remain exorbitantly high. "Last year, our king sacrificed on our behalf, which really helped us. This year, while 80% of sheep are available, the meat prices are still very high. There have been government subsidies and rain this year, but prices remain elevated," he explains. With over 100 million euros allocated to support livestock producers, the lack of significant price drops has sparked heated discussions throughout the country.
As reported by rfi.fr.
