In Chile, the celebration of Mimouna is not a common tradition. In fact, the term itself is not used locally at all, since most families do not celebrate Mimouna as such. Rather, they get together to “break” Passover as an excuse to reunite, which in my opinion is a form of Mimouna without the formalities of the concept.
Beyond its roots in Moroccan tradition, Mimouna represents the connection between liberation and rebirth. On a personal level, I have always felt that this holiday encapsulates the renewal promised by Passover—a return to abundance, hope, and prosperity that we anticipate for the future.
In my case, I learned about the Mimouna celebration well into my teenage years, even though the practice of “breaking” Passover with family was always a part of my life. Since I was little, I remember that the end of Passover was always marked by a special moment, even though we didn’t give it a specific name. The last day of the holiday was a point of transition between the rigidity of dietary restrictions and the return to normal life. At home, we celebrated with a family meal in which the act of “breaking” Passover became a symbolic gesture of re-entering daily life. However, I never imagined that this custom, which felt so unique and personal, was actually part of a much broader tradition celebrated in some places under the name Mimouna.
In my house, Mimouna was always marked by a very special family tradition. After Passover ended, the following day was reserved for a “tallarinata” (pasta dinner), which was more than just a meal—it was a gathering where we relived the best moments of the Passover Seder. Preparing the meal, sitting at the table, laughing together, and sharing not only food but time as a family. What I enjoyed most about those moments was the feeling of unity the celebration brought—a safe space where the family came together.
Over the years, the tradition has changed a bit. While the Seder is still celebrated with family, in recent years the concept of “After Passover” has become popular, with Mimouna celebrated in a communal setting. Although for me this holiday was originally a more private and family-oriented event, today it has become an opportunity to gather as a community, sharing a celebration that invites joy and hospitality. In Chile—a country where it’s not a common tradition—a space has emerged where groups and communities gather to share, learn from one another, and above all, celebrate the abundance and renewal that Mimouna promises.
These gatherings may be for a specific group or open to the entire community. At this celebration, we typically share pizza and drink beer, listen to music, and sometimes even feature artists or rikudei am (Israeli folk dance circles).
Personally, I really like the “After Passover” concept because, beyond just being a group of people, the community becomes an extension of our own family. We can gather to share how our Seders went, exchange cooking tips for next year, talk about the week of Passover in general, and of course, enjoy a pleasant moment in a space that feels like home.
That dinner, which originally was a private “tallarinata,” has been transformed into a festive gathering with friends and family, surrounded by the warmth of tradition and a renewed spirit of connection and solidarity. While there is always some nostalgia for staying home and celebrating in an intimate way, the truth is that celebrating Mimouna in this context has allowed me to expand my understanding of what it means to be part of a community.
Mimouna, more than a holiday, is an invitation to renewal, unity, and hope. On this day, we don’t just celebrate what has been, but what is yet to come, reaffirming our faith in liberation, in a better future, and in the abundance that surrounds us. Through my own experiences, I’ve come to understand the depth of this holiday—not only as a conclusion to Passover, but as a space to share and build new hope, together.
As a final anecdote, I’d like to share that, because of this blog, I had conversations with a few close people and discovered that the vast majority of young Jews have memories or a notion of celebrating the end of Passover with a big family dinner. And curiously, when I asked if that was their way of celebrating Mimouna, almost all of them looked at me strangely—they had never heard the term, yet they had been celebrating it for years. This reflection made me realize that even if the concept of Mimouna is not always explicitly present, its traditions and meanings are deeply rooted in our customs. The essence of this holiday is not only found in its name or its formal celebration, but in the values it conveys: unity, renewal, and hope. In the end, what truly matters is how the celebration is lived, how it is shared, and how—without even knowing it—we have been celebrating Mimouna for generations.
Chag Pesach Sameach, and may the next Mimouna be in Jerusalem!