** Eid el-Kebir 2025: A call for solidarity and reflection on Moroccan traditions in the face of the crisis **
At the heart of the difficult economic situation of Morocco, King Mohammed VI launched an unprecedented appeal to the nation: celebrating Eid El-Kebir without sacrifice this year. This decision, a precipice of a socio-economic reality marked by a persistent drought and astronomical prices for the sheep, raises a deep questioning on the place of traditions in a context of crisis.
### A decision at a crossroads
Eid el-Kebir, or feast of sacrifice, is deeply anchored in Muslim and Moroccan culture. He recalls the sacrifice of Ibrahim, a central figure of Islam, but the current reality obliges to rethink this celebration in its material and symbolic aspects. In other words, the king has not only recognized the economic deadlock in which a large part of the population is located, but he also paved the way for a reflection on the very nature of the party.
It is interesting to note that this is not the first time that such a measure has been envisaged. As history has shown, similar decisions have been made in periods of economic crisis, illustrating a tradition of adaptation of religious practices to socio -political realities. However, this context of prolonged drought, with a precipitation deficit reaching 40.3% according to the Ministry of Equipment and Water, means that this decision takes a particular resonance, hitting directly at the heart of Moroccan households.
### The economic weight of a sheep
With prices exceeding 900 euros for a sheep during Eid, the party takes on luxury for many households. In 2023, Morocco saw its inflation reach 6.1%, exacerbated by the residual effects of the Pandemic of Covid-19 and world geopolitical crises. Faced with this reality, Mohammed VI’s decision, although perceived with relief by a large part of the population, also reveals a paradox: how to perpetuate a tradition fundamentally linked to consumption, while calling for solidarity and charity?
The statistics provided by the latest census show that the livestock experienced a dramatic fall of 38 % between 2016 and 2025. This situation highlights a structural crisis in the livestock sector, where farmers must juggle not only with the reduction of pasturable surfaces, but also with exorbitant food costs. This collapse of the livestock is the result of agricultural policies often insufficient to deal with recurring climatic vagaries.
### Rather to reconnect with the essence of the party
Faced with this situation, it is crucial to rethink the meaning and practice of Eid el-Kebir. Instead of focusing on sacrifice as a consumption act, it could be appropriate to emphasize the community and spiritual sense of this celebration. The king’s appeal recalls that the sacrifice of a cattle is not an obligation, but a symbolic act of solidarity and sharing between the richest and the poorest.
Social media, reflections of collective thought, have seen many positive reactions flourish, suggesting a desire to adopt a more united approach. Testimonies like that of Miriam, doctor in Casablanca, reveal a quest for meaning that goes beyond the simple tradition. Returning to the essence of sharing, alms and solidarity, Moroccans could not only alleviate their economic charge, but also revive a community spirit which sometimes seems to fade.
### A vision to the future
Mohammed VI’s decision also opens the way to a broader reflection on the future of Morocco in the face of climatic and economic issues. By calling for a modernization of traditions traditions, the sovereign reinforces the idea that it is possible to reconcile cultural identity and adaptation to a changing world. This year’s Eid El-Kebir could thus become a turning point, inviting Moroccan society to reinvent its relationship with tradition, the economy and, above all, the sense of the community.
In conclusion, while the challenges accumulate, this royal decision reminds us that the real sacrifices are not only measured in terms of animals, but in the ability to share, to help each other and to reflect together on a common future. For Morocco, 2025 could thus announce the start of a new era, more united and, hopefully, more resilient in the face of future crises.