Spring Holidays

Easter and Passover In spring we have two holidays of two religions, that usually occur almost at the same time each year, with a few days difference: Easter Passover

The Passover Passover or Pesach, in Hebrew, is the festival that reminds us of when the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt about 3,500 years ago and how they got free from the evil Egyptian king Pharaoh.

Fearing that Jewish people were becoming too strong, Pharaoh wanted to illuminate male Jewish babies. A Jewish couple, wanted to save their baby son - so they put him in a basket that floated him down the river. The infant was rescued by the Pharaoh's daughter and she raised him as her own son. She named the baby Moses, which means " take from the water.“ Baby Moses

The Pharaoh refused - so there were 10 plagues sent down to Egypt: Blood, Frogs, Lice, Beasts, Cattle Disease, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, and Slaying of the Firstborn. When Moses grew up, he empathized with the Jewish slaves and tried to get the Pharaoh to free them. The Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Jews who had put lambs blood on their doors. The name Passover comes from the Plague of Slaying the Firstborn.

Red Sea As the Jews were fleeing, Pharaoh changed his mind, and sent his army after the people to bring them back. Moses parted the Red Sea for the Jews to cross, and as soon as they were safely to the other side, the waters closed on the soldiers, drowning them all. The Jewish people were free.

Families celebrate Passover by having a seder. With special foods, songs, and costumes.

The festival of Matzah When the Jewish people left Egypt they were in such a hurry that they did not have time to bake their bread dough in ovens. So they carried the unbaked dough on their backs, and as they were walking it cooked in the sun. It became hard and flat and was called ‘matzah’.

Food and sweet matzah On Passover we can enjoy Matza with chocolate spread on top. Or make a matzah cake.

Passover and spécial plate

The Seder Plate 1.A Roasted Bone This reminds us of the Pesach offering we used to bring in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. 2.A hard-boiled Egg This reminds us of the festival offering which was brought to the Holy Temple on Pesach. 3.Horseradish Root These bitter herbs symbolize the harsh suffering and bitter times we endured when we were slaves in Egypt.

The Seder Plate 4. Charoset A mixture of chopped apple, walnuts and red wine. Ground up together, Charoset resembles bricks and mortar, reminding us how hard we were forced to work when we were slaves in Egypt. 5. Karpas This can be a small slice of onion, boiled potato or sprigs of parsley. We dip the Karpas into salt water at the beginning of the Seder, representing the salty tears we cried when we were slaves. 6. Romaine Lettuce This is the second portion of bitter herbs which we eat during the Seder. This is eaten in a Matzah sandwich together with Maror.

Easter Easter is an important Christian festival and holiday celebrating the rising of Jesus Christ. There are many different customs for celebrating Easter around the world, but the Friday before Easter Sunday

Early celebrations includes the painting of eggs. Easter is also known as Pasch or Pascha. It is also known, that Easter means Spring, which symbolize rebirth.

Exchanging painted eggs started in ancient civilizations with people such as the Egyptians and Persians. The would exchange eggs as a symbol of fertility and new life. Easter Eggs

People believed the Easter Bunny was a white hare that would leave colorful eggs for good girls and boys on Easter Morning. Rabbits are also symbols of Easter The girls and boys would wake up Easter morning and build nests out of sticks and leaves so the Easter Bunny can leave them the eggs. This is how the first Easter Hunts started.

Easter Basket Original Easter baskets were made to look like nests now children receive colorful baskets filled with eggs and candies from the Easter Bunny.

Easter is the second largest candy consuming holiday. Halloween is the first. Please consume carefully, brush your teeth.

Rebirth Both Easter and Passover share the same meaning- Rebirth and Renewal. Another shared tradition between is the significance of eggs at Easter/Passover - hard-boiled eggs are served at Passover and are used to reinforce the idea of rebirth.