Do Moroccans Celebrate Christmas?

Morocco’s public holidays follow the Islamic calendar (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha) and national days, so Christmas Day is not a public holiday and shops, businesses and sights generally operate as normal. Most Moroccans don’t celebrate it, though the country’s small Christian community and some expats do.

You won’t find widespread Christmas decorations in local neighbourhoods, but you may see festive touches in cosmopolitan districts and shopping malls.

Tourist hotels, riads, resorts (especially in Marrakech, Agadir and the bigger cities) frequently lay on Christmas trees, special dinners, and New Year’s Eve galas for guests — so you can absolutely have a festive break if you book a place that offers it. Ask when booking.

Late December is also a pleasant time to travel: mild, sunny days in the cities (cool nights), fewer extreme temperatures, and a popular holiday window — so book riads and tours well ahead, as it’s peak season for visitors.

New Year’s Eve is marked more visibly in tourist and cosmopolitan settings, with hotel and restaurant celebrations, though it’s lower-key than in the West outside those venues. The Islamic New Year is a separate date and a public holiday.

Pack for cool evenings (and cold desert/mountain nights), expect normal opening hours, and embrace a Morocco that feels authentically itself rather than Christmas-themed — with festive comforts available where you choose them.