Moroccan Hammam: what you should know

Moroccan Hammam: what you should know

Moroccan Hammam .Since Moroccans themselves often take a bath in these facilities, visiting a hammam in Morocco is one of the greatest ways to learn about the culture of the nation. Of course, in order to get along with others naturally, you must show them the utmost respect and abide by the laws of coexistence. Because of this, we provide all the information you require about Moroccan hammams on this website, including their history, bathing customs, costs, and guidelines.

A hammam is what?

In Morocco and the majority of Arab nations, a hammam is a communal public bath. When running water or hot water were less frequent in dwellings, they were often used as areas for cleanliness. They have also been used religiously as a way to do ablutions, or a thorough purification before praying.

Currently, as steam baths and pools of water at various temperatures have a calming impact on those who use them, its use is also connected to aesthetics and physical wellness. Due to its widespread appeal, this bathroom design may now be found in many places throughout the world, including those that are not Islamic.

Last but not least, it should not be overlooked that a hammam in Morocco also has a significant social component. For generations, it has been one of the principal locations for men and women to congregate (always separately) and talk in a laid-back setting.

Given that for a very long time this was the only outlet permitted for women, this social component has been particularly important in the case of women. The elder ladies were able to more comfortably communicate with their friends while also getting a better sense of the physical condition of the young women who might someday become their children’s wives.

Additionally, Moroccan cities have long prized their level of pride and status in their hammams, which were judged by their bath’s size and cleanliness (s).

some of the history

Although the hammam is frequently referred to as a Turkish bath, it actually has origins outside of Turkey. The Roman baths, which in turn were influenced by bathing facilities in Ancient Greece, are the closest thing we have to a direct predecessor for Islam before it emerged in the 7th century. They began in Rome and moved to the major towns of the Empire, eventually reaching its eastern region. The Byzantine Empire, which had its capital in what is now Istanbul, was called following the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This may help to explain why these facilities are referred to as “Turkish baths.”

What is known is that the nascent Arab civilisation was aware of the Byzantine empire’s practice of public baths and incorporated it into their daily lives. Public baths continued to be widely used in following periods, such as during the Ottoman Empire’s growth.

It should be noted that the Roman baths used pools with water at various temperatures to operate, very much like the modern hammam. In many instances, they served hygienic, social, and aesthetic purposes instead than religious ones.

There were primarily three water areas in the Roman baths: the frigidarium (cold water), tepidarium (warm water), and caldarium (hot water). The pools were traversed in that sequence, however once in the caldarium, users returned to the tepidarium and eventually arrived at the frigidarium.

The Moroccan hammams, like those in the other nations, keep the thermal contrast as the primary axis of the ritual, although they are not always furnished with pools of water in which to immerse themselves. Instead, they often have chambers with a lot of steam and a temperature that is extremely different. Additionally, there are benches, taps, and buckets in these bathrooms so that the bather can apply the water and soap to himself in accordance with his own rhythm and resistance.

The privately run hammams in Morocco, which are frequently connected to hotels and riads, might offer a variety of pools with water where the bather can immerse himself and unwind at their own speed.

What is the bathing custom?

If we use a public hammam in Morocco as a model, the bathing procedure might resemble this:

1 – You enter the changing area, where you must take off your clothes before beginning your tour of the hammam. Men typically maintain a brief swimwear similar to a slip on. Full nudity is more usual among women, though it is best to confirm if it is permitted in the hammam before choosing this choice. Otherwise, keeping the bikini bottom on might be prudent.

2 – The first room visited is the hot room. Given the extreme heat, the goal in this situation is for the body to adjust to the heat. Take two buckets and fill one with cold water and the other with hot water before leaving this room. Typically, the seat where the bather will sit is just superficially cleaned with cold water. On the other hand, a first, superficial body wash with hot water is performed to remove hair, lint, etc.

3- You enter the hot chamber, where the heat is much more intense and the environment is at its most saturated—the relative humidity is almost at 100%. Here, the goal is to stimulate skin pores to open, resulting in sweating and toxin release. Be cautious because the temperature is really high and the length of your stay depends on how sensitive you are to the heat.

4 – Go back to the warm chamber and wash your skin and hair more thoroughly this time. At this point, the body is washed with soap and water from one bucket while being rinsed with water from the other bucket. After doing this more thorough cleaning, the water should be safely disposed of on the room’s wall. Since the back is the hardest portion of the body to reach, it is usual to offer to wash another partner’s back at this point. Usually, when making an offer like this, the goal is for the other person to reciprocate by doing the same for you.

5 – The bath procedure is completed in the chilly chamber. Showers are typically present in Moroccan hammams to provide a final rinse and to permanently remove perspiration residue. They also frequently provide benches for people to sit on because it is standard practice to take a quiet break here so that the body can reacclimate to normalcy.

6 – A massage is an optional step that can be taken after the bath. Due to its peculiarity, we go into further detail about this massage in the section below.

The final treatment in a Moroccan hammam

As previously mentioned, you are able to add a massage to your Moroccan hammam experience. However, it should be noted that this is not a massage like those you would find in a spa; in fact, some with sensitive bodies may even find it unpleasant while receiving it, though you will experience a powerful sense of relief and relaxation after it is through.

Given that it is carried out with a specialized sponge or mitt and a particular kind of soap—black or beldi soap, which contains black olive oil and has a distinctive aroma—it is an exfoliating massage. You should be aware that the masseuse will press against the skin with some vigor.

It is customary for the hammam’s employees, who are always of the same sex, to perform this massage, though it does occasionally happen that another bather volunteers to. Again, from a financial standpoint, you should view this as a selfless act, even though he likely anticipates receiving another comparable massage from you in the future.

Where in Morocco can you take a hammam?

In Morocco, finding a hammam is extremely simple because each neighborhood often has at least one in the major towns. Smaller communities frequently have one as well, despite the fact that they frequently don’t advertise much. Ask our staff for recommendations if you want to visit one of them to have a truly local experience; they will be able to direct you to a location that fits your needs.

In Morocco, it will be simpler for you to get access to a private hammam, albeit it will cost more. There are several hotels and riads that offer this style of bathroom. They can restrict entrance to only their paying customers, but they can also grant entry to those who do not stay at their institution. In this situation, we also suggest that you seek counsel from our personnel. If you would like to reserve it in advance, we will include this service in your travel package.

Costs of Moroccan hammams

The type of bath you use and the services you order will affect the cost of the hammams in Morocco. If the ticket simply covers the restroom, a public hammam can be had for as little as 20 dirhams in certain situations. However, if a final massage is desired, the cost may go to 60 or 70 dirhams. If you require hygienic items, such as soap or a towel, you should also take into account 10 dirhams or more. Additionally, it is usual to offer the hammam staff a tip of a few dirhams as a token of appreciation for cleaning the area and overseeing its daily operations.

Private hammams, on the other hand, are more expensive due to their more upscale nature, greater emphasis on aesthetics and well-being, and less emphasis on personal hygiene.

What to do when entering a Moroccan hammam

You must follow a few basic rules of conduct in order to have a pleasant experience in a Moroccan hammam (especially if it is a public bath used by locals). Here are a few examples:

Keep a brief-style swimsuit on while bathing if you’re a man. If no one else in the area has gotten completely naked, do not if you are a woman. Then leave the bikini bottom on.

Accept the offer naturally because it is a typical gesture whenever someone offers to wash your back. Then give the person who washed your back a similar gesture in return.

If someone offers to give you the final massage but you don’t want to accept it, politely, easily, and with a grin decline the offer.

Give the hammam workers who are in charge of maintaining it a tip. It is an expression of education and thanks to these employees in Morocco.

If you feel that the space could use some cleaning, bring a mat to sit on the benches in each room.

Never place your feet in the water-filled buckets used for body washing and rinsing.

Do not use the identical cubes as a seat, not even by flipping them over.

Speak quietly if you have to communicate with someone in the room. Remember that it is a time of relaxation for other people, so excessive noise can disturb the rest of the bathers

Your experience taking a bath in a Moroccan hammam will be enjoyable and unforgettable if you follow these regulations and any other common sense guidelines. Unquestionably the best way to unwind after a long day of city exploration, as well as the ideal approach to calm your body before retiring to your room for the night.