The Moussem
THE WORD MOUSSEM GENERALLY CALLS TO MIND A PICTURE OF
WILD HORSE-
RACES, FEASTS UNDER TENTS AND COLORFUL CROWDS WHO ENGAGE
IN
FOLKDANCING.
IT IS A GREAT ASSEMBLY AT FIXED TIMES OF THE YEAR, OFTEN
COMMEMORATING
SOME FORGOTTEN EVENT. IT MAKES POSSIBLE MEETINGS AND
TRADING, AND
OFTEN IS
AN OCCASION TO INVOKE SUPERNATURAL POWERS TO MAKE
TEMPORAL LIFE
MORE
ENDURABLE. IT IS ALSO AN OCCASION FOR CELEBRATING, TO BREAK
THE
MONOTONY
OF DAILY LIFE, AND PROVIDE RELAXATION FOR THOSE WHO WORK
HARD.
URBAN MOUSSEM:
MOULAY IDRISS EL AZHAR /FEZ/ MID-SEPTEMBER
THIS IS THE HOMAGE OF A WHOLE CITY TO ITS PATRON SAINT. THE
CEREMONIAL
IS MINUTELY REGULATED. THE CHIEFS OF THE CRAFT GUILDS,
ASSISTED BY
NOTABLES FROM EACH ONE, MAKE A COLLECTION. THE
SUBSCRIPTIONS SERVE
TO
DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE FESTIVITIES AND PAY FOR OFFERINGS.
THE
COVERING
ON THE SAINT'S CATAFALQUE, MADE OF GOLD-EMBROIDERED SILK, IS
THE
ANNUAL
TRIBUTE OF THE WEAVERS. TANNERS, METAL WORKERS,
SHOEMAKERS,
BLACKSMITHS
AND MERCHANTS OFFER BULLS FOR SACRIFICE AND HUGE CANDLES
TO
ILLUMINATE THE
SANCTUARY. SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE MOUSSEM, THERE IS A
SUCCESSION
OF
CELEBRATIONS, MUSIC AND SONG RECITALS AND HUGE FEASTS.
WHEN THE
GREAT DAY
ARRIVES, THE PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERINGS TAKES PLACE WITH
LARGE
AND
NOISY PROCESSION FROM DAWN TO DUSK.
IMILCHIL MOUSSEM:
4TH WEEK IN SEPTEMBER / KSAR ES SOUK
PROVINCE
IMILCHIL IS A SMALL HIGH ATLAS VILLAGE AT AN ALTITUDE OF
8,530 FEET.
FOR THE YOUNG MEN AND GIRLS OF THE AREA, IT IS A TRADITION
TO GET
MARRIED
ON THE DAY OF THE MOUSSEM. IN ANCIENT TIMES, A HOLY MAN
USED TO
BLESS THE
BETROTHED AT AGDOUL, AND LEGEND SAYS THEY WERE ALWAYS
HAPPY. THE
FIANCES'
FESTIVAL IS STAGED ON THE SITE OF THE TOMB OF THE OLD MAN,
WHO IS
VENERATED IN THE HIGH ATLAS. IT IS A TIME FOR SOME 30,000
PEOPLE FROM
THE
MOUNTAINS TO ASSEMBLE UNDER TENTS FOR THREE DAYS WITH
THEIR
FLOCKS, THEIR
HORSES AND CAMELS. IT IS AN OCCASION FOR THE YOUNG GIRLS TO
WEAR
THEIR
SUMPTUOUS SILVER JEWELLERY, AND TO DANCE FOR HOURS UNDER
THE SUN
AND UNDER
THE STARS.
GOULMIME MOUSSEM:
EARLY JUNE / ASRIR
SOMETIMES CALLED THE "CAMEL MARKET" BECAUSE OF THE
IMPRESSIVE NUMBER OF DROMEDARIES THAT ASSEMBLE THERE.
THIS
MOUSSEM HAS A MORE COMMERCIAL CHARACTER AND IS VERY
POPULAR WITH
VISITORS BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS FESTIVITIES ACCOMPANYING
IT,
PARTICULARLY THE MAGNIFICENT "GUEDRA" DANCE THAT CAN BE
SEEN IN
THE EVENING UNDER THE TENT AROUND A SUCCULENT "MESHWEE".
TAN TAN MOUSSEM:
END OF MAY / EARLY JUNE
AN IMMENSE ASSEMBLY OF ALL THE NEIGHBORING TRIBES IS
STAGED
IN THE LITTLE LOCALITY IN THE SAHARA ON THE OCCASION OF THE
MOUSSEM OF SIDI MOHAMED M'A EL AININ. IT IS BOTH RELIGIOUS
AND
COMMERCIAL IN CHARACTER. AFTER PRAYERS AT THE MARABOUTS
SHRINE,
A TRADITIONAL SACRIFICE OF A SHE-CAMEL TAKES PLACE, QUITE
AN
IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE, AND AFTERWARDS THERE IS A SALE OF
LOCAL
PRODUCTS BROUGHT IN BY MEMBERS OF ALL THE TRIBES, AS WELL
AS A
CAMEL SALE.
MOULAY ABDALAH MOUSSEM:
END OF AUGUST / EL JADIDA
PROVINCE
ABOUT SIX MILES WEST OF EL JADIDA, IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF
MOULAY ABDALAH, THIS IMMENSE MOUSSEM ASSEMBLES
THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AND IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SPLENDID FANTASIAS. THE
DESCENDANTS
OF MOULAY ISMAIL MADE THE TOWN, THEN CALLED IT, A FAMOUS
PILGRIMAGE CENTER,
A MEETING PLACE OF INTELLECTUALS AND THE PIOUS. AT PRESENT,
ONLY
THE MINARET OF TIT REMAINS, WITH THE BASTION FACING THE
SEA AND
THE SHRINES BUILT ON THE TOMBS OF THE AMGHARIYINE
NOTABLES.
MOULAY IDRISS OF ZERHOUN MOUSSEM:
AUGUST 17TH / MEKNES
(MOULAY
IDRISS ZERHOUN)
THIS IS THE LARGEST RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL IN THE COUNTRY AND
ALL THE "MOUSSAWYINES" OF MOROCCO ASSEMBLE HERE TO PRAY
UNTIL
DAWN. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY NUMEROUS FOLKLORE TROUPE
PROCESSIONS.
SIDI AHMED OU MOUSSA MOUSSEM:
END OF AUGUST /
TIZNIT
THIS FIVE DAY MOUSSEM IS RELIGIOUS IN CHARACTER. THE LOCAL
PEOPLE GO IN MASSES TO THE MARABOUTS TO SAY PRAYERS. IT IS
ALSO
AN OCCASION FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORING TRIBES TO COME TO
EXCHANGE
THEIR WARES.