Children celebrate their first day of fasting

By Karima Rhanem | Morocco TIMES 11/10/2004 | 2:52 pm


Children who fasted for the first time yesterday, the most sacred day of Ramadan, Laylat Al-Qadr (the night of destiny), were honored at Palais Tazi, by the Rabat Commune, the International American Women's Club, and several orphanages.

Children who fasted for the first time yesterday, the most sacred day of Ramadan, Laylat Al-Qadr (the night of destiny), were honored at Palais Tazi, by the Rabat Commune, the International American Women's Club, and several orphanages.

“After the success of last year's event, we thought of making this event a yearly tradition to please the children, especially orphans,” said Hassan Lyoussi, managing director of Palais Tazi. “We have called several associations including Association Akkari, Orphelinat de Salé, and others to work with us and provide us with children.”

A number of VIP's attended the ceremony including the US Ambassador Thomas T. Riley accompanied by his wife, the mayor of Rabat, and wives of foreign Ambassadors to Morocco.

The young girls were decorated by a Negafa, a woman who traditionally dresses the bride for her wedding, in Moroccan clothes and accessories. In the open square of the Palais Tazi, the Negafa adorned the girls' faces with makeup and tattooed their hands with Henna. Along with orphans, many parents came to celebrate their children's first day of fasting and to express their happiness.

Mr. and Mrs. Bouajaj, a young couple, who recently adopted a child from an orphanage in Rabat, were extremely happy to bring him to the ceremony. “We adopted Youssef on August 18, 2004, this is his first year with us. We spent a lot of time preparing for this occasion, and bought him new clothes. We are extremely happy to bring him and see him happy.”

Despite the rain, children danced and sung along with the Moroccan traditional music. Laughs and screams were everywhere as girls rushed to get their pictures taken in their extravagant outfits.

Mr. Lahcen Moumen, director of Orphelinat de Salé said this event was very important for the orphans. “We are trying our best to make these deprived children live as if they were in a family. We need to pass along to them the Moroccan traditions and make them see all aspects of the Moroccan way of life in every occasion.”

A melting pot of food was prepared by the wives of the foreign Ambassadors to Morocco, who were wearing traditional clothes of their own countries.