Christmas Holidays: Medinas and Souks in Morocco

"Christmas in Morocco?" you ask.

With more than a week off work, a need for sunny skies, warm days, and a "To Visit List" that included Morocco, we put it all together and went - at Christmas.

Being in a Muslim country over Christmas means that all the usual cues; Christmas carols, Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, nativity scenes, etc., are absent.

Within an Arab medina, a small walled town, are the souks. They are vibrant, fascinating and photogenic shopping markets.


Even without the frenzy of Christmas Shopping Day Countdowns, Black Fridays, or Cyber Mondays, the drive to entice consumers to purchase is everywhere.

While in Morocco we went to souks in Tangier, Fez, Rabat and Marrakesh.

All had their charms.

Souk items range from incredible spice stalls, meat counters, fruit and vegetable displays, leather goods, textiles, soaps, metal works, etc.... There is no end to the items that are for sale.






Generally, the souk merchants are unobtrusive and do not accost you as you walk down the very narrow streets past their tiny shops and stalls.

That is, until you walk into their domain. Then the banter begins.







If you pick something up to look at, be prepared to receive a hard-sell demonstration on the merits of the item. And not necessarily in English.


Generally there are no prices on any of the items.



If you ask, the price stated will be dramatically inflated, because, it is a sport for the merchants to barter.

And even the stores that have signs saying "Fixed Prices" love to enter into the Barter Banter.

It would appear that the harder the barter and banter, the happier the merchant.

Several times we were asked "Are you Berber?"


Our understanding is that the Berber's are poor and therefore bargain hard.

I'm not sure if its a standard comment, or, if we bargained hard and they enjoyed the challenge with us.



Of special note are the leather tanners in the Fez medina.

The only viewpoints are from the shops selling leather goods. What a surprise!

From a high vantage point, still able to smell the harsh smells, it is astounding to watch the workers manipulate the leather hides in huge vats of lime and dye.


Health and safety standards are obviously different in Morocco.

Absolutely mind boggling.

It makes me look at my leather purse, wallet, belts and shoes differently.


We did purchase several items in the souks, and, at the time thought we were fantastic barterers.

But then we reminded ourselves, that they are far more adept and expert at it than we are, so we believe that in reality, the shop keepers always came out ahead.