Facts about Passover

1. 07

   Ashkenazi Jewish families traditionally search their homes for chametz, or leavened products, on the night before Passover using a candle, feather, and wooden spoon in a centuries-old ritual.

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2. 06

   In Jewish households observing Passover, all leavened grain products are removed before the holiday begins, requiring families to consume only unleavened matzo for the entire seven-day period.

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3. 05

   Approximately 2 million American Jews observe Passover annually, making it one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays in the United States despite its specific religious requirements.

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4. 04

   Four cups of wine are consumed during the Seder ceremony, each representing a different stage of liberation from Egyptian bondage according to Jewish tradition.

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5. 03

   During the Seder meal, participants traditionally eat bitter herbs like horseradish to symbolize the suffering of enslaved Hebrews in ancient Egypt.

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6. 02

   Eating matzo during Passover commemorates the unleavened bread that Israelites ate when fleeing Egypt, as they had only 18 minutes for dough to rise before departure.

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7. 01

   The 15th of Nisan marks the beginning of Passover, a 7-day Jewish holiday commemorating the exodus from Egypt around 1300 BCE.

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