Do you know what Passover is? It is a holiday that Jewish people celebrate to mark the time when the Jews left Egypt. But now Jewish people celebrate by having a Seder (a big meal) and they read a book called the Haggadah, a book with songs and stories. Sometimes it will be read in Hebrew (the Jewish language), but sometimes people will read it in English, or even half in Hebrew and half in English!
Some of the traditions include singing songs with family, eating yummy foods like meat, and following traditions like dipping parsley in salt water, which represents the tears the Jews cried when they were imprisoned in Egypt. Dotting the plates with wine or grape juice is also a traditional action; 10 dots represent the 10 Plagues. The 10 Plagues are Blood, Frogs, Lice, Flies, Pestilence, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness and the death of the first born child.
“My favorite parts of Passover are having a Seder with my family, and eating matzoh ball soup and chocolate covered matzah,” 5th grade teacher Ms. Buzin explained.
“What I love about Passover is the whole family gets together and everyone has something to contribute,” 5th grader CA added.
Robbie, a fourth grader from Manhattan, shared, “I am doing the four questions for Passover. I am practicing so hard.”
Food is a big part of Passover. Meat, matzoh ball soup, matzah and chocolate covered matzah are eaten. Another tradition is when some people hide the matzah and usually kids try to find it.
Passover is a Jewish holiday, so some people don’t celebrate. This year people are celebrating on April 12th and April 13th! Have a good Passover!
