Casablanca - Most Moroccans believe that there are certain traits, behaviors and signs that reflect one’s “Moroccaness.”
Once those signs are identified, an association is made between the indicator and one’s national identity. These signs have become part of Moroccans’ common sense. Below are some of these signs according to Moroccans themselves.
You may be Moroccan if:
1) You’re an adept bargainer
Most Moroccans are great bargainers. When eying a particular product or service, a typical Moroccan may first go through all possible shops to make sure the purchase would cost him the least money. After asking for the price of a product or service, the next question a Moroccan would typically ask, ‘What is the final price?’ Nothing has a final price for a Moroccan; even products with price tags are not immune from Moroccans’ bargaining skills.
2) You verify gas cylinders using fire
When you go to buy a gas cylinder at any Moroccan shop, the shopkeeper will mostly use fire to check if the cylinder is not leaking gas. As devil-may-care as it may seem, this practice is deemed very practical and even necessary by Moroccans.
3) You have a vaccination scar on your left arm
Do you have a vaccination scar on your left arm? Almost all Moroccans have one from their childhood immunizations. Moroccans believe that a vaccination scar reflects one's national belonging to Morocco.
4) You’re a tea-maniac
Moroccans love tea more than any other drink. It is prepared at any time of the day, on special occasions or to welcome guests. Tea symbolizes hospitality and the sense of community in Morocco. Many Moroccans claim that not drinking tea in the morning causes them headache and turns them into “grumpy cats” throughout the day. If you too love tea this much, then there is a great chance you areMoroccan.
5) You ask for more when it comes to snacks
In a popular snack restaurant, you may usually hear most Moroccans asking the snacks seller to put more chips or sauce in their plates, or more fruit in their juice. This is seen as Moroccan client’s idiosyncratic way of claiming a special customer service, and the snack owner’s own way of maintaining beneficial customer relations. To ask for more food in Morocco does not necessarily mean voracity, but rather an attempt to establish or maintain special relations with the other.
6) You’re okay with sharing your food
Sharing food in Morocco is a typical behavior. You may frequently see Moroccans offering to share their food with others, be they people they already know or strangers. Moroccans share their food without anyone asking for some of it. A Moroccan sees in this behavior an act of kindness and thoughtfulness toward others. On the other hand, not sharing one’s food with others may sometimes be deemed impolite or even a reflection of gluttony or indifference.
7) You believe that bread is sacred
When Moroccans see a piece of bread somewhere in the middle of the road, they tend to pick it up, kiss it and place it in a safe place, away from people’s reckless steps and cars’ smashing wheels. Moroccans believe that bread is very sacred and reflects divine generosity.
8) You can’t ignore crowds
For a Moroccan, a crowd of people means that:
· There is something entertaining
· There has been a car crash
· There is a fight going on
Moroccans from all walks of life cannot just ignore a crowd without inquiring what is happening—it’s just irresistible.
9) You laugh hysterically even when a joke is unfunny
Moroccans have a special sense of humor, but their reaction to all that is funny is more special. When someone tells a joke that is not funny, most Moroccans would still laugh to avoid offending the person who made the joke. This also reflects Moroccans’ sense of community.
10) Anything is worthy of celebration
Moroccans celebrate anything that brings joy to them. If you’re a Moroccan and have just gotten your driving license, for instance, the next thing you should expect is your friends requesting you to throw a party, which, in most cases, simply means inviting them to a meal either at your home or outside. This can also be the case when you pass a test successfully, have a new girlfriend, or are paid your first salary.
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