Midsummer Customs in Morocco

Morocco, a crossroads of ancient traditions, religious beliefs, and seasonal rites, comes vividly to life in Edward Westermarck's essay Midsummer Customs in Morocco.

Drawing on first-hand observations and oral histories collected from rural communities at the turn of the twentieth century, Westermarck documents Morocco's midsummer rituals. From fire festivals to magical practices and the symbolic use of plants and water, these traditions reveal a complex history of Berber, Arab, Islamic, and pre-Islamic influences.

Both anthropological in scope and ethnographic in detail, this essay offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the living folklore of Morocco's peasantry in the early 1900s.

First published in 1905, Westermarck's account is reissued here as part of the Folklore History Series, which recovers the early records of folklore and seasonal custom for modern readers. Drawn from years of fieldwork, it is an essential read for anyone drawn to the anthropology of North Africa, the study of midsummer rites, and the folk traditions that still endure.

This edition features:

Edward Westermarck's first-hand account of Morocco's midsummer fire festivals and rites
Berber, Arab, Islamic, and pre-Islamic traditions of plants, water, and magic
An anthropological record gathered from rural communities in the early 1900s
Reissued as part of the Folklore History Series for today's readers