Passover is a Jewish festival celebrated to commemorate the liberation of the Hebrews from the enslavement of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh. The festival is a weeklong occasion that begins with the Seder meal taken on the evening of the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. This falls in March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Seder is a ritual feast prepared and consumed as per the Jewish laws. The story of Passover is narrated at the Seder table which is then followed by various customs and traditions to mark the occasion. To know more about how the Passover Seder table is set, continue reading through the following lines.
How To Set The Passover Seder Table
The Seder table is decorated with the finest tablecloth and silverware. The family members put on their best clothes for the meal. Traditionally, the person who leads the Seder is required to wear a white robe known as a kittel. Candles and candle sticks are arranged on trays around the table to catch on the melted wax. Initially, every participant only requires a plate and a wine glass for the first half of the Seder ceremony. Three matzahs are arranged in front of the leader in a special three-tiered matzah holder that comes with a Seder plate on top. Various ceremonial foods are placed near the leader allowing him/ her to prepare the Seder plate.
Horseradish, eggs, charoset and saltwater are placed in porcelain or glass bowls while potatoes, greens and romaine lettuce go in silver bowls. The ceremonial wine is poured into a special goblet for the prophet Elijah, which is placed in the middle of the table. This is then poured into Kiddush cups for everyone present at the Seder. A Haggadah (Passover prayer book), a wine glass, matzah, charoset, salt water, karpas and a hard-boiled egg are placed on each guest’s place at the Seder table. The Haggadahs are placed on top of the appetizer plate, under the dinner napkin.
At most homes, every participant recites critical parts of the Haggadah in the original languages of Hebrew and Aramaic. While reading out the verses, the participants are interrupted by the leader to explain and discuss various points with the children. In some places, it is traditional for everyone to place pillows behind them for additional comfort. They are required to lean towards the left while drinking cups of wine at several points during the Seder. Usually, one or two Seders are observed by the Jews. However, the Israelites observe one Seder night during Passover, while Jews belonging to the Diaspora communities, apart from the Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, hold a Seder on the second night as well.
