The History of Passover
Origin of this Jewish Festival that is Celebrated Annually
Passover is a very religious Jewish holiday that dates back to the time of the exodus from Egypt when the Hebrews were enslaved by Pharaoh. Learn more about this holiday.
Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. The name comes from the Hebrew word "Pesah," which literally means, "passing over" and comes from the instructions that God gave to Moses right before the tenth plague began. Each year, Passover is celebrated right after sundown on the 14th day of Nisa, which is the first month of the Jewish calendar. It is observed for seven consecutive days in Israel and eight days outside of Israel.
No Leavened Food
Because Passover has been celebrated for so long, the holiday is rich in traditions. It is also known as "The Holiday of Matzah" and marks a time when leavened bread should not be eaten. During this time, Jewish people refrain from eating any product that is leavened and must also use different eating utensils and plates during this time. In fact, many families have a set of dishes and utensils that are only used for Passover and not for any other time of the year. Leavened food is any food that is made with or using products that aerated the product. This would include breads, crackers and other baked products that contain yeast or baking powder. Matzah is acceptable to eat during this time. This tradition began because the Jewish slaves ate this type of bread in Egypt and because when the Jews fled from Egypt, they left so fast that their bread did not have time to rise.
Cleansing Traditions
Passover has been celebrated for nearly 3000 years and while each family finds their own traditions and customs, many of the old customs are commonplace in households. For example, most Jewish families will celebrate this holiday by having a feast called "Sedar," which means, "order." In addition, the story of Passover is generally read so that they can reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. Some families also celebrate this holiday by cleaning the house of all "Chametz," which is leaven. Families get together to search for "chametz" and will sometimes have a ceremony to burn what is found.
Firstborn Fasting Ritual
Another common tradition that many Jewish families observe is known as the fast of the firstborn. This takes place on the morning before Passover and refers to the tenth plague, The Plague of the Firstborn. During this custom, the firstborn son will fast until the end of the morning pray service. If a son has not reached Bar Mitzvah, generally his 13th birthday, then the father will also fast with the son.
As you can see, Passover is steeped rich in history and tradition. There are many other ways that Jewish families celebrate Passover each and every year. These families take pride in their religion and their background and teach their own children to celebrate these customs.
