Morocco

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=World Map=
 * capital city: Rabat
 * bordering countries: Ceuta and Melilla
 * continent:

Flag

 * colors/symbols and what they represent: The colors are red and the symbol is a star
 * year adopted: March 2nd 1956

Food

 * **Not** just a list. Choose 3: Morccan Mint Tea, Fried Baby Carrots, and Sugar- Snap.
 * when they eat
 * Special meals - customs while eating

Optional Topics

Population

 * distribution throughout country:
 * total: ( same as Population.)
 * ethnic groups: Arab-Berbers constitute 99.1% of the total population. Berbers, who comprise a little more than 33% of the population, are concentrated largely in the northern regions of the Rif, the middle plains of the Atlas, and the Sous Valley. Arabs, who constitute about 66% of the population, are distributed principally along the Atlantic coastal plain and in the cities. The Berbers and Arabs are closely intermingled, and bilingualism is common. Formerly the Jewish community played a significant role in the economic life of the country, but its numbers decreased from about 227,000 in 1948 to an estimated 10,000 in 1989. By 1998, Jews made up only 0.2% of the population. Other groups made up the remaining 0.7%, including French, Spanish, Italian, and Algerian nationals living in Morocco.

> > Dressmaking is not a rote occupation, it is a past-time which brings about new expressions of artistry on fabrics, thus developing one-of-a-kind garments. Even simple veils, whether beaded or unbeaded, embroidered or unembroidered, are used to enhance the eyes and play on the mystique of women and their natural sensuality. The flowing fabrics of their long dresses and the often-rich colors of the fabrics are meant to enhance a woman's femininity at all times, while at the same time, pronouncing her strong character. Even though Arabic women's fashion may seem simple, it is truly complex. > > In Morocco, fashion preserves its traditional style inherited from great civilizations that found their way to Northwest Africa, such as the Ottomans and the Turks. What is important in today's Moroccan fashion is the fusion of modern Western style with the traditional Moroccan style. Moroccan fashion has been recognized for its style and has garnered a reputation, winning awards in international fashion shows throughout Europe. This contemporary style responds to today's Arabic women's needs: authenticity, sophistication, and fluid lines. Women in the Western world are migrating towards this contemporary Moroccan fashion as it brings the Old World to them in a New World elegance and chic style. The Moroccan caftan transitioned from traditional apparel made from heavy and excessive fabric to today's sheer, form-fitting, and bare gowns. The Moroccan khaleeji (dress), originally adopted from the Gulf area, differs from the traditional Middle Eastern khaleeji, in that the Moroccan dress has more westernized arms that are less cumbersome and allow for more natural movement without excess fabric.
 * Traditional Dress: Arabic fashion has always contained an element of art. From simple stitching to intricate embroidery, Arabic women have played a role in the creation of their wardrobes. It is an ancient tradition for groups of women to sit around a table and bead elaborate patterns on exquisite fabrics. It is often not only the work of one woman on a hand-beaded dress, but also the work of multiple women. Clothing then takes on more than a functional purpose; it becomes the handiwork of a proud community of women who revere dressmaking and design as an art inherent unto itself. It becomes an avenue for these women to express their artistry, intelligence, and desires.
 * Currency
 * Religion: Islam is the established state religion of Morocco. Almost the entire population is Sunni Muslim. The monarch is the supreme Muslim authority in the country. About 1 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 0.2 percent is Jewish.


 * Holidays/Festival - October 1, Eid Al Frit. March 20, Prohets Birthday. August 14, Allegaince Day. November 6, Aniversary of the Green March.


 * Dance: No doubt a warrior's dance, since women do not take part. Wearing white tunics and turbans, with powder- horns on their shoulders, the dancers keep time to the accompaniment of earthware tambourines covered with skins. They dance shoulder to shoulder or in indian file. The body is shaken rhythmically and stopped suddenly with perfectly- timed stamping of the feet. It is a frank, powerful and virile dance without any mannerism or any equivocal gestures.


 * Climate- July and august are the hottest times of year with the least amount of rainfalls. march has the most rainfalls. january is the coldest time of year.


 * Sports- .Whether it's inland, on the coast, in the mountains or in the desert, you will find something to do all year round. Morocco is has some excellent golf courses and is world renowned for its top class surfing. You can also go trekking, fishing, hangliding, horseriding etc...


 * Population- 33,757,175 people.


 * Langauge -Classical [|__Arabic__] is Morocco's official language, but the country's distinctive Arabic dialect is the most widely spoken language in Morocco. In addition, about 10 million Moroccans, mostly in rural areas, speak Berber--which exists in Morocco in three different dialects (Tarifit, Tashelhit, and Tamazight)--either as a first language or bilingually with the spoken Arabic dialect. [|__French__]__,__ which remains Morocco's unofficial third language, is taught universally and still serves as Morocco's primary language of commerce and economics; it also is widely used in education and government. Many Moroccans in the northern part of the country speak [|__Spanish__]__.__ English, while still far behind French and Spanish in terms of number of speakers, is rapidly becoming the foreign language of choice among educated youth. English is taught in all public schools from the fourth year on.


 * Music
 * National Anthem :

[|YouTube - **Morocco's National Anthem**]

 * Famous Monuments
 * coat of arms
 * Literature
 * Drama
 * Marketplace
 * Art-