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Passover Trivia
Passover embodies festive celebration and feasting with family and friends. The festival stands out for its unique history, that of the liberation of Jews from slavery. It commemorates as well as celebrates the fact that the Israelites were able to flee successfully from Egypt, where they were treated as slaves. 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. Read on to explore Passover trivia.
Interesting & Fun Facts About Pesach
- 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.
- The term, Passover, specifically refers to the passing over of the first-born Jewish males, when the death plague hit Egypt.
- "Seder" meal takes place on the first, sometimes even second, night of Passover, and comprises of a festive family meal.
- 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.
- "Haggadah" is the name of a religious Jewsih text, explaining the complete story of Passover.
- A popular and traditional Hebrew song performed during Passover is called "Dayeynu".
- 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.
- 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.
- Matzoh is the name of the unleavened bread that is eaten during the seven or eight days of Passover.
- 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.
- Passover usually coincides with the Christian holiday of Easter.
- 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.
- 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.
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