Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Morocco

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Morocco.

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Did You Know?

18 curious facts about Morocco.

When a child loses a tooth they put their tooth under their pillow when they go to bed. The next morning they must rise with the sun and throw their tooth toward the say while they say “I give you a donkey's tooth and ask you to replace it with a gazelle's tooth.” Otherwise they believe that they might get donkey teeth.
The word “Morocco” was derived from Marrakesh, the name of the capital city in the 11th and 12th centuries. “Marrakesh” means “a pass.” The city was an important stop on the caravan route through the Atlas Mountains.
The region in which Morocco islocated is known as the Maghreb or “sunset”. It is so named becasue it lies to the west of the other Arab nations. Morocco is sometimes known as El Maghreb el Aqsa, whihc is Arabic for “The Extreme West”.
Marrakesh is called the “Red City,” because of the colour of its buildings, which were constructed using the red sand found in that region.

The capital city of Morocco has changed during its history. Under the Romans, it was Tignis (Tangier). Marrakesh was the capital between the 11th and 13th centuries, and again briefly in the 16th century. Fez was the capital from the 13th century to 1912, when it was moved to Rabat.
When a couple divorces, all items received during the marriage go to the wife, but the children usually stay with the father.
Circumcision is a very important celebration in Morocco. When young boys are circumcised, they are dressed as kings and paraded around on a horse. Music is played, and friends bring gifts to mark the occasion.
Casablanca is the chief port and main industrial centre of Morocco. It has a population of more than 3 million people. Agadir in southern Morocco is an important centre for the sardine fishing industry.
Morocco’s souks or markets are a maze of narrow walkways and tunnels. People go to the market not only to buy and sell goods, but to socialize. The souks have many tiny shops crammed with all kinds of goods, from spices to clothing. Because of the narrow walkways, donkeys and bicycles are often the only way to transport goods within the souks.
Le Marathon des Sables, or desert marathon, is one of the toughest foot races in the world. It lasts seven days and covers almost 250 kilometres of sand dunes and rocky desert. About 300 participants come from around the world to take part. They must carry everything they need for the week, including food.