Chametz: is leavened and, thus, forbidden, food. Before Passover, observant Jews eliminate every crumb of Chametz from their homes, in a type of "Jewish Spring Cleaning."
Matzah: the unleavened bread that Jews eat instead of bread during the eight days of Pesach.
Seder: means "Order" and refers to the dinners held on the first two days of Passover in the Diaspora (in Israel a Seder is held only on the first night). This festive meal is full of rituals through which we literally recreate the events of the Exodus from Egypt. On the Seder Plate, we place all of the ritual items to be used throughout the evening.
Haggadah: means "Story." This Hebrew word refers to the books we use to recreate Passover events at our Seders. The text contains a script that is read by guests.
Maror: means "Bitter Herbs." Usually, maror is horseradish on the Seder Plate. Symbolically, maror represents the bitterness of the life our forefathers had to endure.
Charoset: is a tasty mixture of apples, cinnamon, nuts, almonds, wine, and other ingredients. Charoset represents the mortar that the Israelites used to build structures for Pharoah and also reminds us of upcoming springtime.
Karpas: is parsley that we dip in salt water, representing the tears of our ancestors.
Afikomen: is what we call a single piece of matzah that is hidden during the Seder ritual. At the end of the meal, the children search for it around the house and then share it with the group.
Kiddush: At virtually all Jewish gatherings, we perform the ritual sanctification of wine. By saying a blessing, we thank God for joy in our lives.
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