If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Morocco during Ramadan, the month-long period of piety and reflection, or Eid al-Adha, Islam’s most prominent celebration, you’ll experience a profound cultural and religious experience that transcends the physical attributes of the country.
The ebb and flow of daily life give way to the embrace of faith, family and food during Eid Al-Adha (Eid Kabir) two months following the end of Ramadan. If you’re a Western tourist fortunate enough to share these experiences with Moroccan families, consider yourself lucky.
This week King Mohammed VI asked fellow Moroccans to abstain from performing one of the signature rites of Eid al-Adha—slaughtering a sheep or goat for holiday meals and distribution to those less fortunate.
In 2025, the Eid holiday is scheduled for June 6-10. “Performing it under these difficult circumstances would cause real harm to many of our people, particularly those with limited incomes,” the king said in a nationwide announcement.
The decision was no doubt jarring to this nation of 38 million, but it reflected the current challenges facing the nation that are rooted in the effects of climate change. Recurring droughts for the past decade have taken a toll on both the nation’s livestock herds and feed grain (oats, wheat, barley) harvests. Morocco’s cattle and sheep herds have decreased by over a third in the past decade.
So important is the holiday that Morocco’s 2025 federal budget included a suspension of import duties on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat produce to keep consumer prices stable during the runup to Ramadan and the Eid festivities. Morocco recently signed an import deal with Australia for up to 100,000 sheep.
Bus stations and grand taxis will still be packed with the faithful as they head home, fresh dates in hand. The 2025 Eid, whose roots are told in the 37th Surah (Chapter) of the Qur’an, detailing the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son on God’s command, occurs in June when summer heat influences dining choices.
Yes, dining trends will be unique this Eid season. Perhaps some of the trends will remain even when meat becomes less costly and temperatures cool down in September. Look for more vegetable tagines and harira during Ramadan and Eid. Both are iconic Moroccan meals rooted in practicality and mass popularity—the ultimate comfort foods.
Periods of sacrifice and food staple limitations are not new and often create new trends in food consumption. During World War II, the U.S. government rationed certain food products like meat, cheese and coffee as the government encouraged people to grow their own fruits and vegetables in a phenomenon that came to be known as “Victory Gardens.” As bird flu concerns continue in 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture just released a report this week predicting egg prices will increase a staggering 41% this year.
The sheep sacrifice is an obligatory act and Sunnah, when it is feasible, as the king’s message noted. The deeper meaning of Eid al-Adha—sacrifice—takes on new meaning as Morocco and the global community adjust to a changing climate.
