Sundown was at 7:12 pm, and my sister-in-law lit the holiday candles to welcome in Passover. But, I am getting ahead of myself. It is the year 5777 on the Hebrew Calendar, so our ancestors have been celebrating the Exodus From Egypt for a long, long time.
The table was set, and the first course was already on the table. Everyone was starved, but we had to do a short holiday service first. On each chair was a Haggadah, a book that covers the tasks that must be completed and the information that must be covered, IN A SPECIFIC ORDER -it tells the Passover story and lays out the steps of the Passover Seder. We recall this story every year with a holiday meal, but it is not an ordinary holiday meal. It is a ritual, a feast, where certain foods must be served. Passover is an ancient story found in the Bible, in the book of Exodus,in the Old Testament. We remember when our ancestors were slaves in Egypt, and how our people exited Egypt and crossed the desert into “The Promised Land”of Israel.
My nephew, the youngest member of the family, has a special part always performed by the youngest member in the family. He reads the “four questions” in Hebrew and in English. They are asking the elders “why is this night different from all other nights?” “why we eat matzoh” “why we eat bitter herbs on this night” and why do we dip parsley in salt water twice?”
There is Chad, Bikini (my daughter in law) , my son.
My Son Krikki, and his girlfriend who he calls Marv. Why, I don’t know. I wish he would give her a nicer nickname.
My sister in law and her husband, and my mother in law.
I look exhausted because I am exhausted! Even though Bobbie Jean was a huge help, as was Bikini, and my mother in law( brought the starch dishes), and my mom (made the matzoh ball soup)! It still took me three different trips to three supermarkets to buy everything I needed, and two days to cook it all, so now I am looking forward to some warmer Spring weather, taking a long nap and having a barbeque so I can use paper plates. Today was the first day I could take Claire Bear, my Iguana, outside since last fall. She loved it! We even found some wild dandelion greens for her to eat (her favorite!)
Thank you for sharing some of our Seder with us. Tomorrow is the second Seder, and I am so happy that I can go to my mother in law’s house and have Seder there and relax! Passover lasts eight days-which means no bread for me!
I hope you have a great holiday, whether it be Passover, or Easter! (We celebrate both!) I am getting fat from the Cadbury Cream Eggs! And the jellybeans and the peeps! Yum! And all that matzoh with butter! Yum!Yum!
Happy Passover! Happy Easter! Happy Holiday!
xoxoxoxo
Sookie, Sylvie, and Bobbie Jean
