Independence Day is an important holiday in countries all over the world and they all have different ways of celebrating it. The way we celebrate Independence Day here in the United States is a lot different than how they celebrate in other countries. Here are some similarities and differences between Independence Day in Morocco and in The United States of America.

  1. Morocco's Independence Day is held on November 18th and this year they will be celebrating 61 years of freedom from the French and Spanish. This Fourth of July, the United States will be celebrating 240 years of independence from the English.
  2. In Morocco, the celebration starts days in advance and the streets are adorned with the Moroccan flag all over the country to show respect and national pride. In the United States, we celebrate the day of with all of the big firework shows performing on the actual holiday. However, we also show our pride by displaying the flag where ever we can. It is common to wear red white and blue, the colors of the flag.
  3. The Moroccan people don’t celebrate with fireworks, concerts, or parties like we do in the United States. Instead, they show documentaries and interviews on independence, commemorating the historical figures and events that led to the end of colonialism.
  4. In Morocco, a grand reception is organized at the palace of the King of Morocco. People enjoy colorful street parades and festivals. In the United States, we also have local parades all over the country that traditionally include bands, floats, and classic cars. There are also huge firework shows such as the Annual Big Bay Boom show in the San Diego Bay. This firework show is the biggest in the county where visitors can sit on the beach and watch the fireworks over the water.
  5. Americans view the 4th of July as the beginning of the nation however Moroccans do not see the end of the colonial period as the start of their nation. Although Morocco did not get its independence until March 2, 1956, from France and April 7, 1956, from Spain, they chose to celebrate Independence Day on the day representatives of the Moroccan people pledged their allegiance to King Mohammed V as their legitimate ruler and no longer recognized France and Spain's rule.
  6. The Moroccans are a fiercely proud race; proud of their lineage and proud of their independence. But then it is quite natural, given the fact that the Moroccans had to secure their freedom after many hard-fought and bloody battles. This is a struggle that the United States is very familiar with. We had to fight in the Revolutionary War in order for England to recognize us as our own country.
  7. Independence Day in Morocco is marked by a speech from the King and a lavish parade by the Royal Armed Forces through the streets of the capital. In the United States, The President and the First Lady celebrate the Fourth of July by hosting military heroes and their families for an Independence Day celebration with a barbecue, concert and a view of fireworks on the South Lawn.
  8. Although the Independence Day in Morocco (18th November) celebrates its freedom from the French rule, the grateful Moroccans have not forgotten the sacrifices of their heroes in driving away the Spanish conquerors. So in the month of June, there are Morocco independence celebrations to mark the freedom of the country in 1975 from Spanish rule. In the United States, we have other holidays that celebrate the brave men and women that risk their lives to protect us such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day.