(MENAFN- Morocco World News) ">Rabat- Eid Al Mawlid Nabawi is a spiritual day when Muslims recall the ideals of Islam, recite poems and sing songs in praise of the prophet. The eid holiday, like all eids, is a time when Morocco's cultural habits stand out the most.
The festivities vary by region from what to wear to what special dishes to serve.
Assida
Assida is made of semolina flour, water, and salt. It tastes even better if mixed with honey and butter. Photo by: Nada Kiffa
Assida (semolina porridge), is an indispensable breakfast meal for Eid Al Mawlid. Fez, Meknes, Rabat, and more all serve bowls of assida. Families across the Arab world and in other Maghreb countries like Tunisia and Algeria also serve assida.
It is said that assida was a favorite dish of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Because of this, it is often placed on the center of the table.
Harira
Harira Ouarguia is also made of semolina flour, but seasoned with pepper, onion, oil, and celery.
Harira Ourguia is served mostly in the Draa-Tafilelt region in eastern Morocco, but it is also found in other regions in addition to other types of harira soup.
Harira with meat
Harira with vegeratbles
Hssaoua barley grits soup
Hssoua with milk. Photo by Christine Benlafquih
Hassoua is yet another tasty soup served not only for Eid Al Mawlid but also on Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice.
Hassoua is made of 'belboula,' a common grain in the Maghreb. Butter and evaporated milk are added to give it a creamy quality.
Soups make for a warm breakfast on Eid, especially when it falls in winter, but soups are just the beginning of foods that find a space on Moroccan tables.
Melwi
Melwi or 'rghaif' are round Moroccan pancakes
Harcha
Harcha, a Moroccan pastry made of semolina
Dates
On Eid holidays, Ramadan, and many traditional occasions, dates take center stage and come in all shapes and forms to adorn Moroccan tables.
When lunchtime rolls around, couscous and rfissa cannot be ignored.
Rfissa is made of melwi or day-old shredded bread, chicken, lentils, and fenugreek seeds.
Next to couscous, rfissa is a very popular dish in Morocco. It is commonly served on Eid Al Mawlid.
Finally, there's couscous. Besides being served every Friday in Morocco, couscous is the highlight of the Eid lunch.
Couscous is a North African dish typically made of grains of crushed durum wheat, vegetables, and meat.
Some honorable mentions include tajine (stew), sefaa (steamed couscous with sugar), briouate (puff pastry), pastila (meat pie), and a pumpkin paste known as m'assla.
M'assla is a sweet pumpkin dish served as a salad in Fez and other cities in Morocco during Eid Al Mawlid. Photo by Nada Kiffa
Briouat
Tajine
Seffa
Although Eid Al Mawlid has frequently been a subject of debate in the Islamic world on whether Muslims are allowed to celebrate it or not since many Muslim scholars consider birthdays 'haram' (forbidden), many Moroccans see it as an occasion to express their devotion to their faith and love for their prophet.
Eid Al Mawlid is also an occasion for Moroccan Muslim families to gather together and share meals. Many Moroccan cities hold events and celebrations in the streets, playing issawa—a religious and mystic music, especially in cities like Fez, Meknes, Marrakech, and Sale.
Unlike Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, for Eid Al Mawlid there are no special eid prayers which Muslims perform early in the morning of the eid.
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