(Metro News Service) Each year, faithful Jews across the globe participate in one of the most significant festivals on the Jewish calendar. Passover, also known as "Pesach" in Hebrew, is a time for families to gather and recount Jews' journey from slavery to freedom.

Passover is a week-long commemoration of the story of the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt. The Book of Exodus details the story that the Egyptian Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go. In response, God set 10 plagues upon Egypt. The final plague was "death of the firstborn." Israelites hoping to escape the same fate were instructed to mark their doorposts with lamb's blood so the Angel of Death would "pass over" their homes. This is where the name Passover originated.

While the Egyptians were mourning the loss of their children, Pharaoh finally relented and let the Israelites leave slavery. Because they departed in such haste, the bread the Israelites took with them didn't have time to rise, resulting in flat, unleavened crackers. This "matzah" (sometimes spelled matzo or mazzah) became a key component of Passover rituals. Before each Passover, the faithful thoroughly remove all chametz (leavened grain) from the home and do a thorough cleaning.

In addition to eating matzah for the duration of Passover, celebrants also consume maror, which are bitter herbs, according to Chabad.org. The maror symbolizes the bitterness of slavery. The Seder, which is a dinner that takes place on the first and possibly second night of Passover, includes charoset, a sweet paste of nuts, apples and wine that symbolizes the mortar used by Israelite slaves to build Egyptian structures. Karpas, a green vegetable (usually parsley), is dipped in salt water to represent the tears of the slaves and the hope of spring. Zeroah is a roasted bone to symbolize the ancient paschal sacrifice, and beitzah (a roasted egg) is eaten to represent mourning and the cycle of life.

Although it is a religious holiday, Passover also may resonate in other ways and appeal to non-Jews because of its core themes of freedom from physical and spiritual bondage; memories of the commandment and personal stories; and transitioning from winter into the spring season of rebirth.  Those ready to celebrate will do so from April 1-9, 2026.