Doors

Marrakesh, Morocco

We passed through the door below several times before we understood its symbolism. Once we learned about the history and meaning of Moroccan doors, we were treated to a cultural experience each time we entered or exited.

Entrance to the Elegancia Riad Hotel in Marrakesh.

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A door is much more than a passageway from out to in; it is an opportunity to experience Morocco.

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Morocco’s most common type of door is the “hajouj”, a heavy, solid wood door with decorative reinforcements. Moroccan doors have intricate designs carved into the door and frame; animals, flowers, geometric shapes, or Quranic verses reflect the character of the people living within.

A small secondary door embedded in the larger door is a common feature of hajouj. The small door is the entrance used for everyday purposes. It is designed so that people entering the home must lower their heads, a sign of respect for the owner and humility before God.

The large outer door is used to welcome guests. 

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Large and secondary doors have separate knockers, each with a unique sound.  If a man is entering the house, he will use the upper knocker to announce to women inside that they should cover themselves. 

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If a woman wishes to enter she will use the secondary knocker. Men alone inside the house will not answer if a woman knocks.    

The secondary knocker is mounted lower on the door, making it accessible to children.

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But, Moroccan doors are not just for physical protection.  Many people believe that illustrated doors have the power to keep their homes and families safe from spiritual harm. Carvings and decorations on the doors act as a protective shield to ward off evil spirits. Bad luck and misfortune cannot penetrate a Moroccan door.

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The “Throne Verse” from the Quran is often inscribed on doorways.  Throne narrates that a man from humanity and a man from the jinn met. Whereupon, as means of reward for defeating the jinn in a wrestling match, the jinn teaches that if recited, no devil (šayṭān) will enter the man’s house.

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Once inside a Moroccan room, hospitality is a religious and cultural requirement of the occupants. 

Each time we entered our hotel, everyone working there would stop what they were doing, stand, and greet us.  It was awkward at first, but once we understood that this tradition is important to them, we grew to appreciate the warm welcome.

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If we pointed out any minor deficiency with our room, the entire staff was put on full alert until we were satisfied. Everyone was accommodating to a degree we are not accustomed to at home. 

We ran out of coffee pods one evening and mentioned to the desk attendant that we could use replacements for the next morning “if they had time.”  This request initiated a flurry of activity.

It was late evening, so the housekeeping staff was off duty. The front desk attendant, the bellhop, and most of Elegancia Riad Hotel’s on-site management team jumped into action. One person apologized that the stores were closed, so he couldn’t run out and buy coffee. Another said that he would alert his associates in the kitchen and ensure that a carafe of coffee would be at our door by 6:00 a.m. All of this activity was accompanied by heartfelt apologies, which included bowing and much consternation.

I don’t know who, but one of the attendants came up with the idea of borrowing coffee pods from a vacant room.  He appeared at our door with a handful, and more apologies.

It was unsettling for us to be the centre of such attention.  We appreciated the coffee, but I will hesitate to ask for anything else we might run out of.

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Three days is nowhere near enough time to understand the complexity of Marrakesh, but our brief time here opened many …

… Doors

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