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Wedding Festival
September 2000 ~ In the High Atlas Mountains of Imilchil
The
Legend of the Imilchil Wedding Festival
There once were two
young people who fell deeply in love in Morocco. Unfortunately, they
were from enemy tribes. Their families wouldn't allow them to marry.
Out of grief, they wept bitterly. They continued their crying day and
night until they created two lakes made of their tears. Their despair
was so great, they committed suicide by drowning in those two lakes.
The Imilchil Moussem has been created to pay homage to those two young
lovers. Henceforth, all the families granted total freedom to their
children to marry whomever they chose. The engagement festivities take
place every September in the largest souk of all . . the Ait Haddidou
Tribe. The lakes are called "Isli", meaning bridegroom and "Tislit"
meaning bride. The neighboring tribes gather together near these lakes,
and the women choose their husbands. There is great feasting after the
solemn and respectful ceremony. 
For the young men and
girls of the area, it is a tradition to get married on the day of the
Moussem in ancient times, a holy man used to bless the betrothed at
Agdoul, and legend says they were always happy.
The fiancé' festival
is staged on the site of the tomb of the Oldman, who is venerated in
the high atlas. It is a time for some 30,000 people from the mountains
to assemble under tents for three days with their flocks, their horses
and camels. It is an occasion for the young girls to wear their finery,
their sumptuous silver jewelry, and to dance for hours under the sun
and under the stars.
These festivals are
not really connected with Moussems because they are joyful events with
no religious associations. Each region holds a festival to celebrate
the basic source of its wealth for the benefit of numerous visitors
both from Morocco and abroad. Traditions have established the program
of these local festivals. Everyone must conform to custom in order to
be accepted by a society that is proud of its cultural and spiritual
heritage.
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