Passover, a Jewish holiday celebrated in early April, commemorates the story of Exodus in the Torah, which details the Jewish people’s breaking free of Egyptian bondage. While some aspects of Passover, like the seder plate, reflection on the ten plagues, and a large meal, are constant, others are unique to different cultures and families. Here are just a few one-of-a-kind traditions that highlight how special this holiday truly is.
Iran and Afghanistan:
In these two Middle Eastern countries, it is tradition for seder-goers to smack each other with scallions to signify the remembrance of the slavery of the Jewish people. This occurs right before “Dayenu” is sung and adds an extra element of focus on the suffering the Jews endured.
In Iraq, there is a second unique custom: the breaking of wine glasses. For each plague, a bit of wine is poured into a glass, which is then shattered on an outside wall. This is a way to put extra emphasis on the plagues and their meaning.
Morocco:
Moroccan Jews have a special tradition shortly after the last day of Passover. Mimouna is a festival in which families get together to eat their first leavened foods after the holiday. These foods are usually sweet treats, consisting of marzipan and moufleta (thin pancakes topped with butter and honey).
India:
In this Southeast Asian country, guests get to experience a very unique aspect of the seder. All guests dip their hands in red paint and proceed to press them onto paper to create a Hamsa. Then, these papers are hung around the room before the seder begins in hopes of protecting the participants from evil. This tradition is a way for seder guests to acknowledge the Jewish sacrifice and then turn it into a positive form of protection.
Gibraltar (British Territory):
In Iberian Gibraltar, Jewish residents add a very odd ingredient to their charoset: brick dust. A small sprinkling of this dust is meant to represent the mortar used by Jewish slaves during their time in Egypt.
Mexico:
As the Jewish culture has spread to different continents and countries, certain Ashkenazi jews have mixed cultures during Passover. In Mexico, Jews put their gefilte fish in a sauce made of peppers, onions, and tomatoes called a la Veracruzana.
Poland:
For certain Hasidic communities in this European country, the crossing of the Red Sea has extra importance. To symbolize this, on the seventh day of Passover, families pour water on the floor and walk through it, mimicking the Israelites’ crossing.
While these are just a few of the traditions that have developed all across the world during Passover, they show how beautiful it can be when cultures mix. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Passover, and consider including some of these customs in your own celebration!
