Now for the promised photos of my first ever Passover Seder courtesy of the loveliest host family a high-school exchange student could have, Sweet Pea Sister's host family...
A few of the things I learned about Passover Seder:
1) It's the best holiday to be new to because it's all about asking questions...
2) Four questions asking why this night is different from all other nights to be exact:
- "Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzoh, but on this night we eat only matzoh?"
- "Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs?"
- "Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, but on this night we dip them twice?" and
- "Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?"
3) Along with four questions, we have four glasses of wine (mmm!)
4) Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion [επί Κομός], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert") is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside (or in our case hidden) to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Everyone at the table who doesn't yet have children searches for the hidden Akikoman and whoever finds it wins a prize!
After the consumption of the Afikoman, traditionally, no other food may be eaten for the rest of the night. Additionally, no intoxicating beverages may be consumed, with the exception of the remaining two cups of wine.
Now am off to a Good Friday Procession with big brother G and Sweet Pea Sister in my new 'hood... The weather (25C!) couldn't be more perfect out!
Happy Easter Triduum!
xo,
tee.
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