HAMMAM: A North African Tradition in Bathing
Painting by Said Ait Youssef (1920 – 1986), Morocco
Titled: Public bath
It occurred to me that I should perhaps share some information (and a little personal story) on what HAMMAM means, after offering my GREEN HAMMAM and RED HAMMAM gift sets!
If you’ve spent any time in Morocco, or in North Africa really, you’ll undoubtedly recognize that beauty is a central part of the culture. This comes through in a variety of ways, from the delicious culinary creations to the endless architectural wonders, the dazzling dyes and wondrous fabrics. Another method of personal beautification is through cleansing - through hammam.
What is hammam?
A hammam is a public bath house, tremendously common in the everyday neighborhoods usually with a very simple and almost unnoticeable entrance. This bathing tradition comes with an ancient history dating back to 600 AD. When the prophet Mohammad recommended hot bathing and sweating as divine forms of healing, Islamic hammam became as common as city cafes. This remains so now. In Moroccan culture, cleanliness really is unquestionably next to Godliness. Most spas and boutique hotels in Morocco have their own version of hammam, from the simple and humble, to the hyper-lux. I’ve never personally been to any other than the public community hammams, which cost only a couple dirham.
This bathing ritual is a standard part of life in Morocco. The need to shower everyday is a European thing - in Morocco, it is considered healthier to bathe perhaps once a week, but do so with time well spent, spiritual intention, and the delights that come with community socializing. I didn’t know this when I took my first trip there as an uncomfortable 14 year old. I recall the women speaking with my dad. They exchanged sentences and he told me to get a towel. I grabbed my bathing suit not knowing what was happening, then quickly my hand was taken and I was guided me to a small doorway down the street from their house. “Bath!” one said. “Hammam!” To say I was freaked out is an understatement. I was terrified. Changing into my bathing suit turned out to be the worst thing I could have done, resulting in barbed laughs from the older generation who walked strong and naked. Hammam can take hours, and by the end of my trip I was no longer in my bathing suit. I was the cleanest I’ve ever been, in more ways than one. I was stripped of dir and needless thought alike. During hammam, it is also typical to receive a full body scrub-down. After this process, you are reborn every time.
Hammam in the Andalous quarter of Fez, Morocco - by Bruno Barbey, 1985
I honestly get a little eye-rolly when I see posts written about hammam. More often than not, the writer will immediately note how “out there” or goofy it was, or that they got naked in front of a bunch of people, or that a stranger was scrubbing them (usually making unneeded and inappropriate commentary on the body, age or gender of the person). I feel these statements to be out of touch, reinforcing the notion that these rituals and commonplace aspects of society are, in fact, a little strange and silly from the (commonly) western gaze, and at worst completely barbaric. I think it’s time to reconsider how we approach bathing and what the act of cleansing truly means. We bare ourselves, naked in the eyes of the creator, who or whatever that may be to us. We confront what is unclean, and commit to beginning fresh and starting again. This is not a passive act, but one to humble ourselves to, and consider on a deeper level of awareness.
Hammam is good for:
Boosting the immune system. The hot steam used during hammam dilates the blood vessels and increases circulation in the body, opening pores so toxins can be easily released.
Rejuvenating the body. Hot steam does wonders to restore tired, aching muscles - and encourages deep sleep once finished.
Balance of invigoration and rest. The intense scrubbing and massage you experience during hammam lead to your body experiencing a considerable increase in blood flow, in turn, stimulating and awakening the senses. It also allows for deep relaxation and calmness.
Soothing the mind + body alike. Intense heat and steam, as well as the element of hands-on healing through scrubbing and massage leave you feeling completely new.
Let us sweetly and consciously bathe in the grace of every moment. Happy bathing!
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