Passover is a celebration observed by Jews and Samaritans to commemorate the day God spared the Jews’ firstborns from being killed in the plague that swept over Egypt. Moses, actied as a messenger for God to convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to release the Jews from slavery. When the Pharaoh refused, God sent out ten plagues as punishment against the Pharaoh, the tenth plague killing all firstborns unless there was blood of a spring lamb on the door. The blood was a sign for the house to spared from the tenth plague, hence a “passover”. After the last plague, the Pharaoh relented and gave the Jews freedom.

If you’re arranging for a Passover party for your friends and family for the first time, here are some useful tips and guides you can use.

When is Passover Celebrated?

Passover takes place in an eight-day period starting on the 15th day of Nisan. Nisan is the first month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. Converting it to the civil date can get a little tricky, since the Jewish calender is a lunar calendar. Generally, Passover falls on March or April.

The Passover “party,” actually refers tothe Passover Seder, the ritual feast held on the first or for some, the second night of the Passover. On the Passover Seder, the family gathers together to read the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, known as the Haggadah. There are also other rituals that are involved with the Passover Seder.

The Passover Seder is typically a family affair, although some peoplecelebrate it with the general public in synagogues, community centers and schools. It is also traditional to invite strangers and the needy to the Passover Seder. It’s a time to give thanks and to give further dedication to the idea of liberation.

The Passover Seder should be held on the night of the 15th of Nisan, and not before nightfall. If you have young children, you can also begin the Seder as soon as the sun is down. Make sure that your children take a nap on the afternoon of the Passover Seder though, since the ceremony is focused onthemand you will need their full attention and participation.

Decorating for Passover

Passover is a very traditional holiday, so you have to make sure that everything is ready for your observation of Passover.

• Clean House. Clean your home thoroughly. As part of the tradition, all leavened bread (chametz) should also be removed. Chametz is traditionally sold to non-Jewish people, but you can just donate it. Some examples of chametz are: bread, grains, vinegar, cereal, alcohol and cornstarch. Non-edible sourdough (se’or), inedible items and garbage are also removed. To make your dining room kosher, wash it down with boiling water and cover your table with a waterproof liner. (Learn how to keep a kosher kitchen)

Passover appropriate table cloth.


• Table Setting. Cover your table with a Passover-appropriate tablecloth. Your family may have one already, but there are many beautiful ones out there in the market decorated with Passover symbols. The same goes with napkins. Use only the best kosher tablewear for Passover, including Passover plates, flatware and Kiddush cups to drink wine or grape juice from. Put the Seder plate where it can be seen prominently. Have a small dish or plate with salt water for each guest for dipping. To add a more personalized touch, you can also put place cards to indicate where your guests will be seated.
• Haggadoth. Each family member or member of the party is expected to read a passage from the Haggadoth, so make sure that each table placing has a copy. Depending on your family, you can have the traditional Haggadoth editions or the more modern ones.
• Set an “Extra” Place. Have a seat open for the place of Elijah the Prophet, believing that he visits each home as a foreshadowing of his arrival in the end of days. Put a wine goblet in this place. Sometimes, families also include Cup of Water for Miriam to place besides the Cup of Elijah. If you do not have space for an extra setting, you can just have an extra Kiddush cup placed the Seder leader’s cup that is reserved as the Cup of Elijah.
• Afikomen Bag. An Afikomen bag is used to keep the one part of the prepared matzah pieces hidden. Have them ready for each place setting. You can buy these bags or make them yourself.
• Hand Washing Ceremony. There should be a pitcher, bowl and towel at hand for the hand washing ceremony that is part of the ritual. Put these on a small table beside the dinner table.

Candle light.


• Passover Candles. Every Jewish holiday involves lighting of candles to illuminate hearts. Have Passover candles and candle holders ready for this purpose. Lighting candles also have an appropriate blessing to go along with it, depending on the holiday you are observing.
• Other Decorations. Flowers, topiaries, Passover art and star catchers can help liven up the look of your Passover ceremony. You can even put candies in goblets in every place setting as a party favor or as a treat for the kids.

Passover Food

Food is very important because it is an integral part of the Passover ceremony and serves as symbolism for the celebration. Make sure that you have all the required food ready for Passover Seder.

• Matzah. Your matzah must remain hidden until the ritual requires it to be brought out. The matzah must be perfect in shape and clean, without any blemishes. You can buy matzah or make your own.

Passover food.


• Main Plate. Each guest must have a plate with these items: A hard-boiled or roasted egg, a lamb bone or shank bones roasted in ashes, Karpas(a green herb or leafy vegetable), parsley and Maror, also known as bitter herbs (some families use horseradish or romaine lettuce).
• Salt Water. Have a small plate of salt water for each setting as a dipping. It represents the tears shed by the Israelites.
• Charoset. It’s made from pared and chopped apples mixed with sugar, cinnamon, pounded almonds, a little white wine and grated lemon peel. Charoset is also used as a dipping for the Karpas.

Other than these symbolic food items, you can prepare other kinds of festive meal given that the meal is kosher.

Watch this movie for us to know the things that is used for passover ceremony.

Passover Seder Ceremony

Passover, of course, has very specific rituals that must be observed, although there are slight differences between Orthodox, Reformed and Conservative Jews. Here are the following rituals observed in Passover Seder.

• Lighting of the Candles. Light the festival candles at the start of the Seder. There are two or four blessings that are recited while they are being lit.
• Blessing and First Cup. A blessing is said over the first cup of wine or grape juice. Elijah’s Cup should not be touched, but filled at the first round along with everyone else.
• Washing of Hands. You and your guests’ hands will then be washed with no blessing. Use the pitcher, bowl and towel that you had prepared. After washing your hands, you will then eat the Karpas, the green herb or vegetable which you will then dip in salt water or Charoset.
• Breaking the Matzoh. Break the middle Matzoh into two and have one half hidden away in the Afikomen bag. The children may then hide the hidden Matzoh, although it will be asked from them later on for the continuation of the Seder, with a prize in exchange.

Candle lighting.

Breaking matzoh.

Washing hands ceremony.

• Exodus. The Magid, or The Telling, is the part where the story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt is told. Afterwards, the Matzoh is uncovered with all the participants inviting those who are hungry and needy to join their meal.
• Four Questions. The youngest child will then ask the traditional Four Questions. A blessing will then be said over a second cup of wine or grape juice before it’s consumed.
• Eating the Matzoh. Hands are washed again while saying a blessing. There are also two more blessings recited before eating the Matzoh.
• Eating the Maror. A blessing is recited before eating the bitter vegetables or Maror. It is dipped into Charoset and eaten. It also eaten as a sandwich with another piece of Maror and Charoset with pieces of Matzoh.

Marror or bitter vegetables.

Kosher meal.

• Festive Meal. Have a kosher meal, and reward the children who have returned the Afikomen bag which they had hidden.
• The Last Cups of Wine. Pour the third cup of wine, say a blessing after the meal, and make another blessing for the wine. Drink it, and pour a fourth cup. The youngest in the family must then open the front door to welcome the prophet Elijah. Recite psalms before drinking the last cup of wine. The Seder leader will then declare the Seder completed.

Let’s watch the Passover Ceremony.

Passover is a time for reflection and an integral part of Jewish culture, but it is also a time for family and friends to bond together and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t forget to have fun after the meal is through. After learning all the essentials in celebrating a Passover, time for you to head back to place that started it all, read Israel - Your destination to the promised land.