Need a quick refresher in Passover 101? Look no further!
Passover is most known for the food we eat (or can’t eat!). But there is great meaning behind the holiday. The story of Passover can be gory at times so we wrote this kid friendly explanation to share with your kids—or those adults who need an easy refresher of what Passover is and why we celebrate it.
What is Passover in a Nutshell
Passover is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the freedom of the Jewish people from Egypt. The Jewish people were slaves under King Pharaoh. Before the Jews fled Egypt, their firstborn children were “passed over” and spared from death, giving the holiday its name “Passover.”
How to Tell the Story of Passover to Kids (and how to celebrate)
Over 3000 years ago, a wicked Egyptian king forced the ancient Jewish people to work in the extreme heat making buildings and carrying massive bricks. They were treated as slaves by Pharoah and his men. This meant they had little food or water and were beaten. King Pharaoh was so evil that he even killed their baby boys.
One mother, afraid for her baby boy, floated him down the Nile River in a basket. She loved him dearly, but she wanted him to live. So, when Pharaoh’s daughter found him, named him Moses, and became his mommy, Moses was safe and became a prince.
The Ten Plagues
While this is a series of punishments it can actually somewhat entertaining for kids.
God sent 10 plagues to Egypt to punish Pharaoh to free the Israelites. The first 9 were:
- Blood
- Frogs
- Lice
- Flies
- Cattle disease
- Boils
- Hails
- Locusts
- darkness
With the last plague God intended to kill the firstborn of man.
To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark their homes with lamb’s blood so that the angel of death would pass over their houses.
After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally gave in. “Go! Leave!” he yelled. The people were happy but didn’t trust Pharaoh and were afraid he would go back on his word again. They quickly grabbed their dough before it had time to rise and followed Moses into the desert with only this “matzo” for food.
On the seventh day of their journey, they came to the Red Sea. They were exhausted, and the water was impossible to swim across. They were scared because Pharaoh’s army was chasing them. That’s when God gave Moses the power to part the sea by raising his arm. The Jewish people crossed the water, and when the soldiers followed, the path closed, and the sea drowned Pharaoh’s men.
Once they were safe, Miriam, Moses’ sister, led a group of women in gleeful song and dance. Their positive energy was contagious and the ancient Jews rejoiced in their newfound freedom. For the next 40 years, they traveled through the desert until they reached Israel, where they enjoyed freedom.
The Seder Plate
These are the foods that are traditionally placed on a Seder plate:
Karpas – parsley to remind us of spring.
Salt water – to remind us of the tears the people cried in Egypt.
Roasted Egg – a reminder of the festival sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Maror – a bitter herb like horseradish to remind us of the bitterness of slavery
Zeroa – a roasted bone (or red beet) to remind us of the Passover sacrifice that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem
Haroset – a mixture of fruit, wine, and nuts to remind us of the bricks that Pharoah forced the Israelites to make.
Fun Ways to Celebrate Passover with Kids
A fun game during the Seder is “Hide the Afikomen.” You can start of your Seder by hiding the letters to Afikomen ahead of time and have the kids search for the letters.
We hope this year, you’ll enjoy a meaningful Seder meal.
