(25 Mar 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4484931

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marrakesh, Morocco - 23 March 2024
1. Various of sour oranges on tree with the famed Koutoubia minaret in the background
2. The main pedestrian avenue in Marrakesh lined with sour oranges
3. Oranges on tree
4. Girl checking orange blossoms at the headquarters of Al Munya Association
5. Orange blossoms
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jaafar el-Kenousi, co-founder of Al Munya Association and chairman of the Zahria Festival:
++SOUNDBITE PARTLY COVERED WITH THE FOLLOWING SHOTS++
"The credit for these celebrations goes to the women of Marrakesh and the women of Morocco because it was the women who preserved them and kept them to this day. Today, these festivities and ceremonies are part of the national heritage as announced by the Culture Ministry in Morocco. And we are very thrilled. This year (the event) is special because it involves cultural, touristic and academic institutions."
12. Various of distillation ceremony
13. Various of people filling bottles with orange flower water
15. Various of guests at event rubbing hands and face with orange flower water
16. Guests at event
STORYLINE:
The onset of spring in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh is a time of celebration for some as they honor the tradition of the distillation of orange blossoms.

The ancestral tradition is part of Morocco's national heritage.

This tradition has retained its authenticity in Marrakesh where families have maintained the practice that was handed down from one generation to the next.

Jaafar el-Kenousi, the co-founder of Al Munya Association, where orange blossoms are filtered, said the credit for keeping the tradition alive belonged to the women of Morocco.

The initiative to transform this once-private family occasion into a public, cultural and festive celebration was taken by Al Muniya Association, a nongovernmental organisation.

The celebration has become an annual tradition in Marrakesh, which is considered the capital of sour and bitter orange, also known as bigarade orange.

Orange flower water is mostly used in pastries, dashed in mint tea or sprinkled over the head and hands during religious ceremonies.

To preserve this tradition, Al Muniya Association is going to apply to get this practice recognised by the U.N.'s scientific, educational and cultural organization, known as UNESCO.

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