From The Classroom: Proficiency Presentations 1

I teach the Proficiency Class, which is the highest level we offer. Earlier in the semester I required my students to read an article about the Muhammad Cartoon Controversy, which portrayed the Islamic world in a very negative light. The discussion was excellent.

Afterwards, I asked my students to prepare a 10-12 minute presentation that shared an aspect of Moroccan or Islamic culture with the Western world. I emphasized that the audience was Western, because I really want them to think about translating their own culture and beliefs into a different, and sometimes hostile environment.

For a week or so, they worked on the presentations during class and then the last two weeks they presented them to the class.

I figured that I would summarize them for my readers so that their hard work does not go totally unnoticed.

----------------

The first presentation was about feasts and ceremonies in Morocco. The five Moroccan religious feasts, which are celebrated according to the Islamic lunar calendar, are Achoura, Mawlid Nabawi, Ramadan, Aie El Fitr and Aid l'Kbir.

Achoura commemorates when Moses and the Israelites were saved from Egypt. Moroccan children generally receive toys and pound on drums. Water is sprayed in the street and there is a special meal.

Mawlid Nabawi commemorates the birth of the prophet. It is coming up this weekend.

During Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims fast all day and then break their fast after sunset with a large feast.

Aid El Fitr, is the first day following Ramadan. The month-long daytime fast is broken and Muslims are required to tithe. When the men return from prayer the families eat pancakes and children receive new clothes, followed by numerous family visits.

Aid l'kbir, the only one I have actually experienced so far, commemorates when Abraham almost killed Ishmael to fulfill God's command. The celebration involves the killing of a sheep and numerous meat dishes, followed by family visits.

The important ceremonies of Moroccan culture include the engagement party, wedding, baptism and circumcision.

The engagement party is less important than it used to be, since men have so much more access to women these days, but it is still an important time for the families to meet and agree on a date for the wedding and exchange the dowry.

Weddings generally occur in houses, not in churches as in the Christian tradition. Moroccan Pastilla, Chicken, meat with prunes and cookies and tea are all consumed.

The baptism of a Moroccan child usually occurs on the second day after birth. There is a slaughtering of a sheep and the child is named.

Only men are allowed to the circumcision ceremony, which purifies a male's body and helps to identify it with the Muslim community.