Morocco: Mohammed VI Renounces The Official Celebration Of His Birthday

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, who turns 56 on August 21, decided “to no longer organize, from this year, the official ceremony” celebrating his anniversary, announced on August 13 a statement from the Palace, without specifying the reasons for this decision.

The celebration of the royal anniversary traditionally coincides with the “Youth Festival”. During the reign of Hassan II, this feast was celebrated on the birthday of the father of the current ruler on July 8th.

For the last Feast of the Throne, which marked on 30 and 31 July the 20 years of Mohammed VI’s reign, the Palace had already called Moroccans to a “normal commemoration without further celebration”.

A calendar punctuated by official holidays

This holiday culminated on July 31 with the highly ceremonial ritual of allegiance, which sees every year hundreds of dignitaries, elected officials and senior officials of the Ministry of the Interior prostrate themselves before their sovereign.

For his 54th birthday, in 2017, the king had organized a reception in the city of M’diq (north) in the presence of a crowd of representatives of the political, diplomatic and military.

The Moroccan calendar is punctuated by official festivals, marking historical dates and appointments related to the monarchical life, usually punctuated by large receptions, speeches and royal graces.