Moroccan Holidays and Traditions: A Guide for Visitors and Expats
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| Major religious | Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid |
|---|---|
| Major secular | Throne Day (30 July), Unity Day (31 October), Green March Day (6 November), Independence Day (18 November) |
| Most disruptive | Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: family travel and possible longer business closures |
| Ramadan impact | Changed restaurant hours, reduced daytime services, festive evenings |
| Fixed holidays | New Year (1 January), Amazigh New Year (14 January), Labour Day (1 May) |
Morocco’s calendar combines national holidays with religious festivals that follow the Islamic lunar calendar. It affects more than offices: travel demand, shop hours, family gatherings and the atmosphere of a neighbourhood can change from one day to the next.
For an official reference, use Morocco’s national and religious holiday calendar. Islamic holiday dates move through the Gregorian calendar and should be checked again close to travel.
National holidays: the fixed dates
These holidays fall on the same Gregorian dates each year.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| 11 January | Independence Manifesto Day |
| 14 January | Amazigh New Year (Yennayer) |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 30 July | Throne Day |
| 14 August | Oued Ed-Dahab Day |
| 20 August | Revolution of the King and the People Day |
| 21 August | Youth Day |
| 31 October | Unity Day (Aïd Al Wahda) |
| 6 November | Green March Day |
| 18 November | Independence Day |
Unity Day is observed on 31 October. It was proclaimed in 2025 and added to the administrative holiday calendar in 2026. See the Morocco holiday calendar for dates and planning. Amazigh New Year, on 14 January, is also a national public holiday. The government’s official calendar lists both.
The public holidays mark different moments in Moroccan history and society. Throne Day commemorates King Mohammed VI’s accession; Independence Day recalls Mohammed V’s 18 November 1955 speech after returning from exile; France formally recognised Morocco’s independence on 2 March 1956; Green March Day commemorates the 1975 march. You may see flags, ceremonies and local events, but a national holiday does not mean that every museum, café or attraction closes.
Ramadan: a different daily rhythm
Ramadan is the month of fasting, not a month-long public holiday. Many people fast from dawn until sunset, and some businesses adjust their hours. Certain cafés and restaurants open later or concentrate service around iftar, the meal that breaks the fast.
Tourist-oriented venues may follow different schedules. If you are visiting during Ramadan, check the opening hours of the places you plan to use rather than assuming an entire city closes during the day. Evenings are often lively as families and friends gather.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Families gather, visit one another and share meals and sweets. Eid al-Adha is a major family and religious occasion associated with the sacrifice of livestock.
For public administrations, Morocco’s official holiday schedule lists two days for each Eid. Individual businesses follow their own opening arrangements and may stay closed longer. Travel before and after the holidays can be busy as people visit family elsewhere in the country.
If your trip coincides with Eid al-Adha, ask your accommodation whether local festivities or slaughter activities might affect the neighbourhood and whether the services you need will be open. Do not assume that all restaurants, taxis or tourist sites operate as usual.
Other religious holidays
Islamic New Year, on the first day of Muharram, and Mawlid, marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birth, are also part of Morocco’s official holiday calendar. The public-administration holiday schedule also allocates two days to Mawlid.
Their Gregorian dates vary from year to year. Check the current Moroccan announcement before booking appointments or travel on those days; online calendar estimates may not match the final date observed locally.
What is open, and what changes?
- Government offices and banks: Expect closures on statutory holidays. If you need paperwork or branch banking, arrange it on an ordinary working day.
- Trains and coaches: Check the actual timetable and reserve early if you are travelling around Eid. Holiday demand is route-specific.
- Restaurants, markets and attractions: Hours vary by city and operator. Ask directly rather than assuming that everything will be open or closed.
- Cash and essentials: Carry enough for your immediate needs before a longer holiday period, and check pharmacy opening arrangements locally.
For a trip with several cities, look at the dates before booking intercity connections. For a local day out, a quick check with your accommodation or venue is usually more useful than a generic national closure list.
For the cultural context behind the festivals, see Moroccan culture.
Practical Tips
- Check the Islamic calendar for Eid al-Adha dates before booking travel. Book intercity transport early around major Eid holidays.
- Be considerate of local customs during Ramadan and check daytime restaurant hours.
- Banks and government offices generally close on public holidays. ATMs usually keep working, but carry some cash around the longer religious holidays.
- Religious holidays can bring busy intercity travel and changes to shop opening hours. Check your route and accommodation before booking.
- If you prefer not to encounter animal slaughter during Eid al-Adha, ask your accommodation how the holiday is observed nearby.