A Very Happy New Year to All!

Hi everyone,

As you may have noticed last night was the New Year!!

So first of all happy New Year everyone and our bests wishes for 2011.

It is known as the Christian or Gregorian calendar and it is based on the time that takes the earth to circle around the sun which means about 365 days for a year

Although in Morocco about a month ago we celebrated another New Year: 1431 which is known as the first Moharem.

It is different because it based on the moon, so it’s shorter: usually minus 13 days every year. During this celebration, we gather with our families to eat a special meal which is “chahria” which is chicken with special Moroccan noodles. Unfortunately Moharem the first is less and less celebrated compared to December thirty first but our parents try to keep the tradition. Family is extremely important for us! They are usually very extended but we try to see each other every week or so.

However the most common and the most well celebrated New Year by youth and now even older people is the Christian New Year since it is the daily life calendar. This is the celebration we party, with our friends and when we sleep until very late morning. January the first it's also a bank holiday. Even if there are some stereotypes about Morocco as a not very developed country, we celebrate the regular New Year as we should and very properly.

We really hope we have been able to change some stereotypes that foreign people can have. Some were actually astonished by the fact that we could wear shorts actually put on makeup even in Morocco. Some others also see Morocco as a non developed country where pupils go to school by camels and do not have electricity!

We actually go out a lot (or used to since this year we have tons of work and we finish at 5:00 pm or 6:00 every day) with our friends! A very typical day with friends is lunch in a restaurant, cinema and then we can just stay on the beach or we can just stay at someone’s place.

They are also clubs and very night restaurants for the night.

Although this is when we have time, during school weeks the only break we can allow ourselves is watching a nice serie! Each one has his preference but thanks to streaming video we are always updated.

Once Again HAPPY (whichever you want) NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!