The celebration of the Amazigh New Year reflects Moroccans’ attachment to their intangible heritage, transcending linguistic barriers to strengthen the spirit of belonging and diversity.
This tradition highlights local knowledge about nature and ecosystems, demonstrating an ability to adapt to climatic hazards, as highlighted by Lahoucine Bouyaakoubi, an anthropologist at Ibn Zohr University in
Agadir.
In a statement reported by national media, the anthropologist explained that these festivities go beyond the simple framework of celebration to integrate social and development dimensions.
Present throughout the ingdom, from Beni Guil in the east to the Taounate mountains and the Doukkala plains, this tradition shows variations in rituals and names.
Abdelaziz Yassine, a history professor, describes the practice as a deeply rooted, age-old custom that is difficult to date precisely.
He adds that it has withstood waves of migration, forging a plural Moroccan identity.
Although linked to the agricultural calendar, the celebration also affects herders who organise their activities according to natural cycles.
The rituals, often family-based, are found in various regions, including those where the Amazigh language is not spoken.
In the province of Taza, for example, the inhabitants of Tsoul mark the event with joyful ceremonies, including gifts for children and traditional dishes such as “mardoud” and “khayeh,” according to Ahmed Lazaar Tsouli, an oral heritage researcher.
This tradition has taken on a national dimension since King Mohammed VI’s decision to establish January 14 as an official public holiday.
This measure highlights the Amazigh language as an essential component of Moroccan identity, common to all citizens of the kingdom.
SL/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA