Celebrated Today
Today, the best-known part of Passover is the Seder. The word seder means "order." It is an ordered meal in which the story of the Exodus is told through readings, prayers, questions, foods and symbols.
The Haggadah guides the Seder. It tells the Exodus story and provides the order for the evening. Children have an important place in the celebration. Their questions help introduce the story of why this night is different from other nights.
Matzah, or unleavened bread, is one of the best-known Passover foods. Bitter herbs recall the bitterness of slavery. Other foods and customs help tell different parts of the story.
Jewish households also remove foods containing leaven, called chametz, in preparation for the festival.
Customs differ among Jewish communities. Yet the central purpose remains the same: to remember the Exodus and pass its meaning from one generation to the next.