Last year while we were in New Zealand, we started a new Easter tradition of sharing a Passover meal together. Sharing a Passover meal isn’t something as common to the Christian faith, and yet Passover itself and the story behind it, is something that is both familiar and honoured.
As we establish family life, my husband and I value even more greatly, customs and traditions that become integral parts of our family identity, and Easter is a significant time to do that. A traditional Passover meal, although the elements are simple, can be quite a complex and lengthly affair. For us, it was about sharing a meal, and recognising food as symbols.
Components
Candles
God’s triumph.
Lettuce
Growth of the Hebrew people in Egypt.
Salted water
Signifying tears of slavery and deliverance through Red Sea.
Hard-Boiled Egg
Represents offerings that were brought to God in the Temple of Jerusalem in ancient times.
Roast Lamb
Sacrifice.
Flatbread
Symbolises the yeast less bread that was eaten by the Hebrews after they were set free. I use this flat bread recipe.
Bitter herbs
The bitterness of slavery.
Apple dish
This is the recipe I’m using this year. Represents the mortar used by Hebrew slaves to make bricks.
Wine or Juice
Represents rejoicing. (Sanctification -> Deliverance -> Redemption -> Restoration)
Ceremony
Below is an excerpt from A Messianic Passover Haggadah which is clear, detailed and helpful.
However we designed our own ceremony (as such) which is about creating a cultural and faith-based tradition surrounding sharing a significant meal together. It has the main components, served as a meal, and we talk about the significance of each component and then eat the meal together. It’s a lovely time.
Over the years, I have formed our own Seder celebration taking bits and pieces and compiled it into a short version we share before we eat the meal. You can access the file here.
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