Rabat – Parliamentarians from the Independence Party (Al Istiqlal) have called on the Moroccan government to extend the holiday related to the celebration of the Amazigh Yer to two days instead of just one in 2024.
In light of 2024 being the inaugural year of Morocco’s celebration, parliamentarians have called on the government to extend the New Year holiday to Monday, January 15.
The appeal came due to the Amazigh New Year holiday falling on Sunday, January 14, aligning with the weekend.
MPs from the Al Istiqlal Party, which is part of the government coalition, said that the call for action stems from the fact that this year marks the first celebration of the Amazigh New Year.
MP Noureddine Madiane stated that celebrating the Amazigh New Year on Sunday would not highlight this day as required, especially since it would be the first year Morocco celebrated the event officially.
Minister of Justice Abdellatif Oahbi said that he would convey the proposal to the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch.
Mounim Fettahi, one of the parliamentarians from the same party, shared the same concerns on Monday, calling on the government to extend the holiday to Monday.
He said that the goal of extending the holiday is to make Moroccans feel the “significance” of this “exceptional day” after Morocco decides to declare the Amazigh New Year an official national holiday.
In May 2023, King Mohammed VI instructed to add the Amazigh New Year to the list of national holidays in Morocco.
A statement from the royal cabinet announced the news, emphasizing that the monarch sent instructions to the Head of government to take the necessary steps to implement the decision.
This move reflects the King’s “commitment to the Berber language, a fundamental part of Morocco’s authentic identity and a shared asset for all Moroccans,” the statement explains.
The recognition of the Amazigh New Year holiday came following appeals and campaigns from activists, urging for an official national holiday to celebrate the occasion.
The Amazigh New Year, also known as “Yennayer,” marks the beginning of the agricultural calendar and is celebrated by the country’s Amazigh population.
The decision also comes as Morocco speeds up the expansion of Tamazight language learning in Moroccan schools.
On Monday, Minister of Education Chakib Benmoussa said that Tamazight is taught in 31% of Morocco’s primary schools. He added that the ministry aims to reach a rate of 50% during the school year 2025-2026.
