Passover, also known as Pesach, is a very important Jewish holiday. It celebrates the story of the Israelites being freed from slavery in ancient Egypt. Understanding when it happens each year can be a little tricky because it follows a different calendar than the one most of us use every day.
The Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar. This means it is based on both the cycles of the moon (lunar) and the sun (solar). Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which has fixed months, the months in the Jewish calendar follow the phases of the moon. Because of this, Jewish holidays, including Passover, fall on different dates each year according to the Gregorian calendar.
Passover always begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan. Nisan is the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, which means it's the first month when it comes to religious observances. Finding Nisan and then the 15th of Nisan is how you discover when Passover begins.
Because the Jewish calendar is different, Passover falls sometime in the spring, usually between late March and late April. To find the exact date for a specific year, you'll need to look up a Jewish calendar or a conversion chart.
Here's a little table to show you some recent and upcoming Passover dates:
| Year (Gregorian) | Passover Begins (Evening Of) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | April 5 |
| 2024 | April 22 |
| 2025 | April 12 |
| 2026 | April 2 |
Passover lasts for seven days in Israel and for eight days in the Diaspora (Jewish communities outside of Israel). This difference has historical reasons. Long ago, news traveled slowly. Adding an extra day was done to make shure everyone observed the holiday correctly.
One of the most important parts of Passover is the Seder, a special meal held on the first one or two nights of the holiday. During the Seder, the story of the Exodus (the Israelites' escape from Egypt) is retold. Special foods are eaten that symbolize different aspects of the story, like matzah (unleavened bread) which remember the Israelites didn't have time to wait for their bread to rise when fleeing Egypt.
Another important observance is avoiding chametz. Chametz refers to foods that are made with grain and have been allowed to rise. During Passover, observant Jewish people clean their homes to remove all traces of chametz and eat only foods that are certified kosher for Passover.
For exampl, you can't eat bread, pasta, or most cookies during Passover if they contain wheat, rye, barley, oats, or spelt that has come into contact with water and been allowed to ferment.
The easiest way to know when Passover is each year is to check a Jewish calendar. Many online calendars also show the dates of Jewish holidays alongside the dates on the Gregorian calendar. Just search for "Jewish calendar [year]" and you will find many resources.
Passover is a spring holiday that remembers the important story of freedom. It begins on the 15th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which means it falls on different dates each year according to the Gregorian calendar. Celebrations include the Seder meal and avoiding chametz. By using a Jewish calendar, you can easily find the date of Passover each year. Keep in mind that the dates listed are the beginning of the holiday; Passover lasts for seven or eight days, depending on location.
I hope this helps you understand when Passover is celebrated! Feel free to ask if you have more questions. It is always good to learn more about different cultures and traditions.
Passover, Pesach, Jewish Holiday, Nisan, Jewish Calendar, Seder, Chametz, Exodus, Spring Holiday, Passover Dates.
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