Passover is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, meaning that in biblical times Israelites would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate it, along with two other major holidays.

Passover commemorates Israelite freedom from slavery, specifically the Exodus story told in the Book of Exodus, when the Israelites were freed from bondage in Egypt. Ironically, the Israelites later practiced slavery themselves.

The name “Passover” comes from the belief that God “passed over” Israelite homes during the final plague, when their doorposts were marked with lamb’s blood.

The holiday begins at sunset because, in the Hebrew calendar, a new day starts in the evening. Therefore, Passover officially begins on the night before the 15th of Nisan.

Passover always occurs during a full moon in spring because it begins on the 15th day of Nisan, aligning it with the lunar cycle.

The Hebrew name for the holiday is Pesach (פֶּסַח), a word connected to the verb meaning “to pass over,” though some ancient translations suggest it can also imply protection or compassion.

Passover lasts seven days in Israel but traditionally eight days in Jewish communities outside of Israel.

The Passover Seder is a highly structured ritual meal during which families retell the Exodus story through symbolic foods, prayers, and discussion.

The story of the Exodus is read from the Haggadah, a guidebook that fulfills the biblical commandment to tell the story of liberation to one’s children. Children play an important role in the Seder, especially by asking the Four Questions that spark discussion about why the night is different from all other nights.

Chametz refers to leavened grain products made from specific grains mixed with water and allowed to ferment, and it is completely forbidden during Passover.

Not all leavening agents are prohibited. Baking soda and baking powder are permitted because they create lift through a chemical reaction rather than fermentation.

Observant families thoroughly clean their homes before Passover to remove even small amounts of chametz, sometimes down to crumbs hidden in cracks and corners. On the night before Passover begins, families perform a ceremonial search called bedikat chametz, traditionally using candlelight to look for any remaining leaven.

It is customary to hide ten small pieces of bread before the search so that something will definitely be found and the blessing over the search is not said in vain.

The chametz collected during the search is typically burned the following morning as both a symbolic and literal act of removal.

Matzah, the unleavened bread eaten during Passover, represents the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt before their dough had time to rise.

Passover is closely connected to the barley harvest season, tying it to the agricultural rhythms of ancient Israel.

The second night of Passover begins the 49 day Counting of the Omer, which culminates in the holiday of Shavuot.

The Hebrew calendar uses a fixed mathematical system known as the Metonic cycle to ensure that Passover always remains in the spring season. Due to calendar rules, the 15th of Nisan can fall only on certain days of the week, preventing specific scheduling conflicts in the Jewish calendar.

According to 2 Kings, King Josiah restored national Passover observance in ancient Judah after it had been neglected for generations.

The Book of Ezra records that the returning Jewish exiles celebrated Passover after rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.

Ancient Jewish writers such as Josephus and Philo described Passover practices, confirming its importance during the Second Temple period.

Different Jewish communities observe Passover dietary customs differently. Ashkenazi Jews traditionally avoid kitniyot, such as rice and legumes, while Sephardi Jews permit them.

In Gibraltar, the Jewish community historically mixed actual brick dust into their haroset to intensify its symbolic connection to the mortar used by enslaved Israelites.

Arizona has become an important source of wheat for Passover matzah because its dry climate reduces moisture, helping prevent accidental fermentation.

Some Persian Jews symbolically whip one another with scallions during the Seder to recreate the physical hardship of slavery before singing “Dayenu.”

Karaite Jews, who reject rabbinic traditions, do not drink the traditional four cups of wine at the Seder. Instead, they drink fruit juice because they interpret fermentation laws differently.

Israeli Jews hold only one Seder, while Jews in the Diaspora hold two due to an ancient practice called yom tov sheni shel galuyot, which developed when communities outside Israel could not confirm calendar dates quickly enough.

After Passover ends, many North African Jewish communities celebrate Mimouna, a festive gathering that marks the return to eating leavened foods and welcomes prosperity and spring.