(Metro News Service) Spring is widely characterized as a season of rebirth and rejuvenation. That characterization is often made when noting the way natural settings change come spring. Flowers bloom each spring; trees fill out with leaves after branches have been bare for months, and homeowners dust off their lawn mowers to cut grass that’s growing once again.

Spring is also a season of rejuvenation for faithful adherents to Christianity and Judaism. Easter Sunday is the most significant day on the Christian calendar, and that significance is evident in the fact that many non-Christians recognize the day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But people who are not Jewish may not know as much about Passover, a celebration that is one of the most significant days on the Jewish calendar and one that is also symbolic of rebirth.

What is Passover?

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews reports that Passover commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt. This exodus led to the birth of the Jewish nation, Israel.

When is Passover?

Like Easter, the exact date of Passover changes each year. The holiday is an eight-day celebration among the Jewish diaspora and is celebrated for seven days in Israel. In 2025, Passover will be celebrated from April 12-20, and in 2026 the celebration will take place from April 1-9.

How did Passover get its name?

The Hebrew word for Passover is “Pesach”. The holiday gets its name because faithful Jews believe the Angel of Death saw the blood of the Passover lamb on the doors of the houses of Israel and then passed over them during the final plague afflicting Egypt. That Passover ultimately spared the first-born sons of Jews.

Celebrating Passover

Tradition figures prominently in Passover celebrations. The IFCJ notes the seder is the heart of Passover. The online educational resource My Jewish Learning notes that the seder is an elaborate evening meal that features various symbolic foods. Matzah, bitter herbs, parsley dipped in saltwater, and a mixture of fruit and nuts known as haroset. Though the seder itself is a ritual that often features family and friends gathered together, there are additional customs within the seder that the IFCJ notes bear their own symbolic significance. That includes the foods served during the meal, which each symbolizes a different component of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt.

Passover services

While the seder is the focal point of Passover, Jews also attend synagogue in celebration of their faith during this important week. My Jewish Learning notes Jews attend synagogue in the morning on the first and last days of Passover, when special biblical passages are read. Yizkor is recited at synagogue on the last day of Passover in remembrance of the dead. This special recitation is made just four times each year.

Passover is a Jewish holiday steeped in tradition. More information about this unique celebration can be found at ifcj.org and MyJewishlearning.com.