Celebrate the Amazigh New Year in Ouarzazate, Ouarzazate

If you're traveling in Morocco in January, you can attend the Amazigh New Year, also known as the Berber New Year, on the 12th of January. The Berber calendar is almost in the year 3000 now, as the year 2021 is 2971! The Berber new year is celebrated amongst Berbers all over Morocco, but most people observe it at home. Ouarzazate, however, is the only place where it's celebrated together and outside.

In Ouarzazate, the town hosts a big new year festival every year. It takes place in the main square where locals come together to enjoy the traditional holiday dinner, consisting of seven vegetable couscous dishes. As a tradition, many families hide an olive pit and an almond in the couscous. Whoever finds the olive pit is the king of the family for the year and makes big decisions, and whoever finds the almond will be the treasurer for the year, controlling the family's money. Families typically enjoy this tradition with their kids for fun, and everyone eats from one big plate.

Not many tourists attend this celebration, so it's an authentic experience where you could be the only foreigner there! The festival lasts one night and features a few vendors selling goods and food. In addition, you can listen to poetry and relax at the cafes around the square.

Discover other unique experiences in Ouarzazate.