Moroccan authorities decided to enforce a set of restrictions for the night of December 31, 2021, in Rabat, as they did in all cities in the country, in order to prevent ”the spread of the new Coronavirus.”
All celebrations were banned, including parties and special events that were organized in hotels, restaurants, and tourist establishments. Restaurants and cafes closed at 11:30 pm as part of the night curfew that was implemented ahead of the New year’s Eve celebrations.
Consequently, Rabat’s streets were deserted much earlier than normal. After a very lively afternoon, during which most of the public spaces were occupied by families and groups of young people enjoying the festive atmosphere, the calm returned with the arrival of the night curfew.
While certain consumption habits have persisted despite the unusual economic conditions, others have succumbed to time. “For us, it is above all the opportunity to get together as a family around a cake, in order to welcome the New Year in good humor and happiness,” says Brahim, a resident of Rabat.
In a statement to a local news outlet, he stated that the actions taken by the public authorities have not changed much, as they still remain necessary to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in its own way.
Undoubtedly, one of the indestructible traditions of Moroccan families celebrating this event is to purchase the log cake, which is the star of the table.
As a result, visiting the city’s streets and boulevards will not be complete without encountering the flavors and colors emanating from pastry shops and other businesses looking to gain a competitive advantage. Their efforts are soon rewarded by the enthusiasm of those who relish these little goodies, as Moroccan families rush early in the morning to grab a log cake before it runs out of stock.
In addition, restaurants occupied a special place in the schedules of several families, who were able to plan their outings before closing time for 11:30 pm.
However, these scenes of opulent affluence do not hide the plight of the cafes, restaurants, and pastry-bakeries struggling in the shadows due to the pandemic, but are trying to adapt nonetheless in the hope for better times ahead.
Having noticed a decline in cafe activities, an employee who identified himself by the pseudonym of Hassan, pointed out that “it’s nothing new to us,” he said in response to the effects of COVID-19 on the cafe business. “It started with the spread of Covid-19 and it continues despite a slight recovery.”
According to him, the end of the year is being celebrated, as it has been in the past, under the shadow of the epidemiological situation, marked by the spread of the Omicron variant, which makes people wary and hesitant to frequent public places like coffee shops.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to the measures taken by the public authorities to contain Covid-19 and praised the efforts made by the police to enforce adherence to the measures.
While New Year’s Eve was marked by festivities and enjoyment for many, it still represents a night of mobilization for others, in this case, the police, who are called to ensure the security of the public, especially in view of the extensive road traffic and crowds associated with such events.
Morocco’s security services have positioned themselves at strategic points in the capital or creating roadblocks, while also monitoring compliance with the night curfew and other imposed restrictions, in order to ensure that it would be possible to celebrate the next Christmas Eve and New Year without any restrictions.
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