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Celebrate... Passover
Posted 23/04/24
Passover 2024 begins on April 22, 2024, and ends on April 30, 2024. The date of Passover changes each year because the date is set not by the Gregorian calendar, but by the lunar-based Hebrew calendar. It always occurs during the Hebrew month of Nisan.
What is Passover?
The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, April 22 - 30, 2024.
Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.
In Hebrew it is known as Pesach (which means “to pass over”), because God passed over the Jewish homes when killing the Egyptian firstborn on the very first Passover eve.
How is Passover celebrated?
Passover is most traditionally celebrated with a special feast called a seder. This takes place on the first evening of Passover and sometimes the second evening too. The typical seder features traditional prayer, symbols and blessings designed specifically for Passover and food presented on the seder plate.
The seder plate usually features several specific foods:
- Matzoh (unleavened bread)
- Maror (bitter herbs)
- Chazeret (bitter lettuce)
- Charoset (a nut and fruit paste)
- Karpas (parsley, dipped in salt water or vinegar)
- Zeroa (a lamb bone)
- Beitzah (a roasted egg)
Each element of the feast has symbolic importance to the festival.
Fascinating Facts!
- Passover is ancient: Passover is over 3,000 years old, becoming the longest-standing celebration in the Jewish faith.
- Nepal is home to the world's largest seder: The event attracts more than 1,000 participants annually in Kathmandu.
- Being pet-friendly: There is a growing range of pet food so Jewish households can fully comply with their religious duties.
Want to Learn More?
You can read more about Passover on Sky History and BBC Bitesize. Or watch some short and informative videos below!
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22nd-30th April 2024 : Passover is an eight-day Jewish holiday and is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th to 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan.
