Merry maimouna

April 17, 2009 - 8:22 AM by Jessica

mimouna-tray Pesach 2009 has come and gone, with the last vestige of celebration relegated to Mimouna, the Moroccan festival held on the evening and day after Pesach. Some say the festival is in memory of the great philosopher Moshe ben Maimon, known as the Rambam, while others say it is named for the word itself, Maimon, which means wealth and good fortune. Whatever the reason, it’s become a day of festivities, and much eating. Friends and families gather at one another’s homes, and in local parks to celebrate with food, lots of it. It’s an opportunity for local politicians to visit constituents in certain neighborhoods, in a kind of ‘Mimouna-Hop.’ As if we haven’t all been eating enough for the last seven days…

In Jerusalem, it’s been my custom during recent years to head over to Sacher Park where the local Mimouna celebrations take place, and where all the celebrants are happy to include one and all, even strangers. And if you have a desire to create your own Mimouna, Molly Petito, the owner of party planning company Marrakesh, has a few handy tips:

Make sure the table is full of food and looks celebratory;
Leave your doors of your house (or tent) open so that anyone who wants to share in the celebration feels welcome;
Have lots of candies on the table, no hametz, as well as cookies, nuts and dried fruits;
Since Mimouna symbolizes the end of Pesach, some Mimouna celebrants make sure to decorate their tables with sheaves of wheat and barley;
And feel free to add fish as a symbol of fertility and ful beans for luck.

For anyone living outside of Israel, consider an alternative kind of Mimouna, and celebrate it on Friday night, if you’re already cooking…here’s a good recipe and an easy mint tea option.

Share with others