Passover, Pesach in Hebrew, is a religious festival observed by Jewish community to commemorate Israel's liberation from oppression and slavery under the Egyptian's ruler Ramses II over 3000 years ago. Passover is a seven-day festival that begins on 15th day of Nisan month in Jewish calendar. Passover festival is also widely known as "Feast of Unleavened Bread" because according to the exodus story, the Egyptians hastily departed that they could not wait for bread to leaven it. To observe the festive occasion, no leaven bread is eaten during the festival. Jewish families feast on many types of dishes over the family get together, rituals, gathering and meetings during the Pesach festival. Passover embodies festive celebration and feasting with family and friends. In the Jewish calendar, Pesach is regarded as one of the most important festivals. Apart from its history, there are some exciting facts and trivia associated with the festival.
Interesting Pesach Trivia
Explore interesting Passover trivia associated with Pesach festival celebrated by Jewish community all across the world.
Passover Trivia
- Passover holiday has three names: Pesach - literally meaning the Passover sacrifice; Hag Hamatzot - Feast of Unleavened Bread; and Zeman Heirutenu - the Season of Our Freedom.
- The term, Passover, specifically refers to the passing over of the first-born Jewish males, when the death plague hit Egypt.
- "Haggadah" is the name of a religious Jewish text, explaining the complete story of Passover.
- Passover, the popular Jewish holiday, is celebrated in remembrance of the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
- There is no fixed date of the Passover. The date of this festival is dependent on the phases of the moon.
- Many centuries ago, Jewish people who lived in the Sahara used to abandon their fortified villages on the Passover day and march into the desert, in memory of the first Passover, when the ancient Israelites left Egypt to follow Moses to the Promised Land.
- Among Orthodox Jews, the day before Passover is a fast day, when every firstborn Jewish male has to fast, to commemorate the original deliverance of the firstborn sons on the first Passover eve.
- "Seder" meal takes place on the first, sometimes even second, night of Passover, and comprises of a festive family meal.
- Matzoh is the name of the unleavened bread that is eaten during the seven or eight days of Passover.
- According to tradition, four cups of wines are consumed at the festive meal of Passover night. Those who cannot have so much wine can have grape juice instead.
- Even if Moses is the most important human figure in the Passover story, he is mentioned only once in the Haggadah.
- During World War I, in Vilna, Poland, when it was very difficult to find kosher wine, the rabbinical authorities made a special announcement to allow sweet tea in the Seder ceremony, instead of the traditional four cups of wine.
- During the seven or eight days of Passover, only unleavened bread is eaten and foods containing yeast are strictly avoided.
- It is believed that festival of Passover has some connection with Bible, as it refers to the Biblical story of the 10th Plague.
- A popular and traditional Hebrew song performed during Passover is called "Dayeynu".
- Jews wash their twice during the Seder meal.
- The water of River Nile turned into blood, Frogs, Lice (vermin), Wild Beasts (flies), Blight (Cattle Disease), Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness and Slaying of the First Born are the ten plagues sent by God.
- Passover usually coincides with the Christian holiday of Easter.