It was our first day in the Moroccan city of Fes, and our timing was fortunate as the city was hosting the Moussem of Moulay Idriss II (Moulay Idriss Festival). In Morocco, a “moussem” is a religious festival in honour of a saint, and this particular event is one of Morocco’s largest moussems.
Not a fan of crowds, we were a bit apprehensive as we approached the main gate to the old medina. However, the advice given to us was excellent.
We tucked into a cafe window seat high above the street, affording us a prime position to enjoy the festival without being a part of the crowd. We ordered traditional Moroccan mint tea to compliment the recommended snack.
The festive mood was contagious.
Despite the hot weather, the thick crowd was seemingly friendly. The parade of local artisans, musicians, and others wove through the onlookers effortlessly. The melodic music mixed with an almost chanting tone filtered up to our seats. While we didn’t fully understand the event, we enjoyed it.
Highlights of the Moulay Idriss festival procession
Musicians created a festive mood
Setting the festive tone, the first musicians entered the medina along the procession route. Many onlookers joined the procession, adults and children alike.
Next, a group of drummers joined in, skillfully twirling their drums as they played. People, especially those sitting up where we were, tossed money into their drums. One guy looked straight up at me, his eyes asking for money to be tossed. We quickly obliged.
In the end, the drummers were my favourite to watch.
Craftsmen shared their wares
After the musicians came the craftsmen. First, the carpets, then other handcrafts.
As more skilled craftsman shared their wares as the crowds on the street were getting thicker. Some were onlookers. Many joined in. I was just glad to be in a seat watching from above.
In the second shot below, the blue blanket caught coins as onlookers tossed them from the decks.
Crowds filled every empty spot
The crowds kept growing, and seemed to fill every spot on the ground, in the cafes and on the rooftops.
We continued to be thankful for the advice to get here early and to sit in this cafe. From our window seat inside the medina, we looked towards the intricate main gate. Called the Blue Gate, it is blue on the other side.
Animals are included, some being ridden and one for sacrifice
While the overwhelming majority of people walked, some rode donkeys. Traditional melodies filling the air.
Several men guide a single cow through the crowd to a place for sacrifice. Many onlookers will follow along to witness the sacrifice, but not us. While we try to embrace the culture, we just couldn’t bring ourselves to either join that dense crowd or watch a sacrifice.
More information on the Moulay Idriss Festival
- The Moussem of Moulay Idriss II procession winds through the old medina of Fes to the saint’s tomb.
- We attended this annual event in September 2012. However, the date moves according to the Islamic calendar.
- Moulay Idriss II ruled Morocco from 807 to 828 and founded the city of Fes for the second time in 810. (according to Wikipedia)
- Rabat is the current capital of Morocco. Historically, the capital city has changed many times between the imperial cities of Fes, Marrakesh and Rabat.
- A portion of Fes’ old Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Fes or Fez? Because the city name is Arabic, it doesn’t translate directly to English. Both spellings are correct. However, more often, the city is Fes, while the hat is a fez.
More to do in Fes
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Sara Bernandez
One of the best festivals that i had been to was in esssaouira it was so so amazing
i would go again for sure
Hilary
Great post! I’m fascinated by Morocco, and appreciate the photos of the people during a local event, especially the one of the man smoking during the procession. I too have thousands of photos just waiting to be gone through and it’s nice to see that I’m not alone there… LOL!
Rhonda Albom
I couldn’t resist taking the shot of the guy smoking. It just added a whole level of personality to the procession. And you are not alone. There are probably more of us than there are those who are current.
stacey veikalas
OH do I want to go to Morocco It is at the top of my list! I love this festival it looks like a lot of fun!
Rhonda Albom
It is one of the my favourite countries I have visited.
Vicki Louise
I bet it was so much fun to watch the festivities! We visited a couple of years ago at the end of Ramadan. It was incredible to watch the city start celebrating at the end of fasting! And I wish we had anticipated the crowds and found a good vantage point like you – we ended up right in the thick of it all!
Rhonda Albom
We just got lucky.
Sally's Tips 4 Trips
I think I would be a little apprehensive to be amongst the crowds, especially as a white person during an Islamic religious festival. And whilst I would be intrigued to learn about the festival I feel as a non-Islamic it is not my place to be in the festival procession, yet finding a posy high above the festival and being able to watch looked the perfect option.
Rhonda Albom
I would never be in the procession but we did view the end of it from the ground level. The photos just are not that great.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
You got great advice and had a good vantage point of the crowd without being surrounded by it. I especially like the photo of the musicians on the horses but feel very sorry for the cow. Is the design on the Blue Gate made out of mosaic tiles or carvings? It’ so detailed.
Rhonda Albom
I felt bad for the cow also, but then again I am a meat eater, so I can’t think about it too much. As for the gate, it is mosaic tile.
Bryna | Dotted Line Travels
Great photos, Rhonda! I can feel the atmosphere of the festival through it. Love the photo of the man pausing his music for a smoke!
Rhonda Albom
I smiled when I saw him, and knew I had to get the shot.
eileen g
my husband has always hated crowds and I’m more wary of them, too. It’s lucky when to get to see local events like this and perfect to get to see the from a perch above and a little removed from the crowds. what a nice experience.
Rhonda Albom
We did go down near the end of the festival and found ourselves in the huge crowd.
Mike Cotton
What a colourful festival. Morocco looks a country full of culture. I had friends visit over Xmas and they loved it.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, it is full of interesting history and culture.
Punita Malhotra
I could imagine the melodies floating in the air as I read through your post. You’re so lucky to have witnessed a festival while you were there. Interesting little bits of information about the changing capital cities..I wonder why they did that.
Rhonda Albom
We did feel very lucky. And, Morocco has been around for a long time.
Ahila
Vibrant, colourful photos of the festival! It was great that you found prime vantage seating without having to be part of the crowd.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Ahila
Allison
How cool that your visit to Morocco coincided with a festival. It looks amazing and very busy! I’m glad you didn’t feature the cows fate!
Rhonda Albom
Even if we had followed the poor cow (which could have only happened if we didn’t know what was to come), the photos wouldn’t be here.
Anda
Great idea to watch the festival from behind a window, Rhonda. I’d feel more secure that way too. Most of the times I stay away from the crowds too, but I have to say that not mingling with them keeps you somewhat far from the action. I’d love to visit Morocco too. Like always, your pictures give me a great sense of the place.
Rhonda Albom
It was more of a balcony open window, so we could still enjoy the aromas and melodic sounds of the ceremony.
Fiona Maclean
What an amazing spectacle. You’ve brought it to life, it’s all very vibrant. I love the photos of the musicians
Rhonda Albom
Thank Fiona, it was quite lively.
Suze
I hadn’t heard of this festival before but it looks very vibrant. Were you tempted to go down and join in? You’ve certainly captured the essence of it from the cafe
Rhonda Albom
Towards the end we did go down and join in, but the photos are not as good.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
Morocco is already so colorful, I can’t imagine how fantastic it would be during this festival! #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
The music really added to it.
Ruth
You vantage point was excellent! You captured very clear an interesting photos. I would have prefer that too since I do not do well in crowds either. #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
I wonder if anyone likes crowds. I do think some people handle them better than others.
Stephanie (@Vaycarious)
Fortunate timing indeed! Your pictures are beautiful, Rhonda!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Stephanie.
Corinne
Yes, the poor cows never make it much longer, do they? Love your photos! I think I would have loved Fez that much more if there had been a procession!
Rhonda Albom
We did feel bad for the cow. I am glad he didn’t know his fate in advance.
jill
Whoa! What an interesting festival – and crowds of people! The older I get the better it is that I only do crowds for a short while. The advice you received was, indeed, excellent. Looks like fun though!
Rhonda Albom
I think it was the animals moving through the crowd that would have been the most difficult part for me had I been down at ground level.
Marcus and Mel
Great pictures looking down onto the procession. I would imagine it felt timeless, watching something traditional which has remained unchanged for years.
Rhonda Albom
It was interesting, especially the mix of tradition and more modern. The line between participant and spectator blurred the longer the procession continued.
Gokul Raj
The place is drowned in festive spirit. Incredible photos and you got the best spot to watch the celebrations.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. It was fun to watch all the festivities.
Amelie
Rhonda those images are wonderful! I love when I don’t plan and things like this happen! I had a similar experience at Easter in Tenerife last year. Great photo opportunity!
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. We got really lucky with this one, as we had arrived in Morocco two days ahead of the original schedule.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – what an amazing opportunity to come across – beautiful photos of the religious procession … love the photos – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Hilary.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
What a great idea – staying in the comforting surrounds of a cafe and watching the crowds from above.
Rhonda Albom
I can’t take credit for the idea. The French proprietor of the Riad we stayed at suggested it.
Lexa Cain
I never knew about Moulay Idriss. My husband probably would. You picked a great spot to observe the festivities. Your shots were great!
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t know about it either. We arrived in Morocco two days early due to a change of plans, and just got lucky.
Kreete
What an interesting festival! Never even heard of it. I am the same when it comes to crowds, so great job for being able to observe from above without being in it. I heard the mint tea is super sweet there, is that true?
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, we hadn’t heard of this festival it either. As for the mint tea, it is super sweet. I enjoyed every cup, until I got home and looked up a recipe. It has about 6 teaspoons of sugar for a single serving of tea.
Paula McInerney
Amazing colours and vibrancy – love a good festival and Morocco is on our list for sure
Rhonda Albom
This festival is annual in September. We heard the music festival is also a great and crowded time to visit Fes.
Sarah
These are such beautiful colours! I think my favourite is of the man on the donkey.
Rhonda Albom
Do you remember him, or only from the photos.
Moira
Thanks for sharing such a memorable experience in Morocco — looks incredible and like you had a great vantage point!!
Rhonda Albom
I agree. We were very lucky to get a window seat overlooking all this activity.
Kat
So much colour! But those crowds of people… you were smart to get up high and stay there. Malta has similar festivals and I remember being a child in huge crowds of people, it can get pretty scary. #wkdtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t totally stay there, towards the end we came down, but everyone was so close I couldn’t get a decent photo.
Comedy Plus
Very colorful, but too many people for me. I like the wide open countryside far better.
Great shots as always.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
Yes, knowing you, I don’t think you would like crowds like this.
L. Diane Wolfe
Such a variety. You picked a good spot, both for photos and to stay out of the crowd. Had I been on street level, I wouldn’t have seen a thing.
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. Towards the end we went down into the crowd and the photos are not as interesting,.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
fascinating festival! and indeed colorful! #wkdtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
It was very fascinating, and quite lively.
Trekking with Becky
WOW! I would have LOVED to see that! I can’t get enough of cultural things like this, but like you, I wouldn’t have followed to see if the poor cow got sacrificed. I wonder what the music was like.
Rhonda Albom
Traditional African music.
David @Travelsewhere
Wow, what timing! I can’t imagine Moulay Idriss so full of people, when I visited it was extremely quiet. You can certainly get the festive feel from your photos, great work!
Rhonda Albom
We have been to Fes twice. I can’t imagine Fes quiet.
David @Travelsewhere
Haha, I misread something at the start that totally threw me. I thought you visited the -town- of Moulay Idriss from Fes for the festival. Makes a lot more sense now! Fes was most definitely not quiet! My bad haha.
Rhonda Albom
We did visit the town of Moulay Idriss on a different day.
Lolo
What a fun looking festival! You certainly got lucky with such an amazing spot to watch the festival! #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
I think that the locals wanted to be down closer to the action.