Morocco will celebrate Eid Al Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, on July 31. With the major religious holiday just around the corner, the Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Sustainable Development has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the best practices to follow during Eid to keep our environment healthy and clean.
The energy ministry shared a short but informative video on its YouTube channel with the hashtag #EidMoubarakNadif, urging Moroccans to protect the environment during Eid Al Adha. The video demonstrates the best ways to clean up after the feast, how to properly dispose of the remains of sacrificed animals, and even includes advice for butchers.
The COVID-19 pandemic is as great a threat as ever, and the Moroccan government is stressing the need to enjoy Eid Al Adha while respecting preventive measures to preserve public health.
The energy ministry’s campaign aligns with that of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Interior. The two government departments issued on July 23 mandatory guidelines that Moroccan families, butchers, and managers of souks where livestock are sold must adhere to during the upcoming Eid Al Adha celebrations.
Morocco’s Eid Al Adha guidelines for livestock sales
Members of the Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) will be deployed to souks and other areas where livestock are sold to ensure compliance with sanitary measures. These areas must be sanitized every day before opening to shoppers and after closing.
The health ministry’s preventive measures must be clearly written and posted at the entrance of all souks in Morocco, and hand sanitizer must be available at the entrance. All souk shoppers and vendors must wear a face mask.
Moroccans and souk managers must respect social distancing guidelines and remain at least one meter away from others.
Souk managers and municipal authorities must compile a register of authorized Eid Al Adha butchers. And all livestock for the feast must be tagged.
Eid Al Adha in Morocco amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Due to the unprecedented circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Eid Al Adha, like Ramadan, looks very different in Morocco this year.
While mosques are open, Moroccans are encouraged to perform Eid prayers at home rather than in mosques.
Moroccans should also limit unnecessary travel. Although many Moroccans travel to visit relatives during the religious holiday, the Moroccan government has suspended entry to eight major cities in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.
The cities concerned are Tangier, Tetouan, Fez, Meknes, Casablanca, Berrechid, Settat, and Marrakech.
