Prepare the Seder Plate

On we use a special plate called a seder plate. We put five or six different foods on the seder plate. These foods help us remember why Passover is a special day.

A seder plate has a special place for each food. Usually each food’s name is written on the seder plate in Hebrew and in English. Can you figure out where all of the foods on your seder plate go? Prepare the Seder Plate

Shank Bone

This is a roasted bone, usually from a chicken or turkey. Some families like to put a roasted beet on the plate instead of a bone.

Many years ago, the Jews used to give God a lamb on Passover. This was called a sacrifice. The bone helps us remember the days long ago when we used to give God a lamb. Prepare the Seder Plate

Egg

People put a hard-boiled egg on the seder plate. It is a good idea to hard-boil the egg so it will not break if there is an accident.

Passover is a spring holiday. Spring is a time of year when baby animals are born. Some baby animals hatch from eggs. So an egg helps us to think of new life and springtime. Prepare the Seder Plate

Karpas

Karpas is a green vegetable. Some people put parsley on their seder plates, while others may use celery or another green vegetable.

Passover is a spring holiday. Spring is a time of year when leaves and new plants are growing. So karpas helps us to think of springtime. Prepare the Seder Plate

Charoset

Charoset is a sweet mixture of apples, nuts, honey, wine, and spices. Some people may put other fruit in their charoset, too.

Charoset is a red-brown color. Charoset is also a little mushy. Charoset reminds us of the mushy, red-brown mortar the Jewish slaves made long ago in Egypt. Mortar is a kind of clay that is used to help bricks stick together. Prepare the Seder Plate

Maror

Maror is a bitter herb. Some people put radishes, green onions, or on their seder plates to use as maror.

Maror tastes bitter. Maror reminds us of how bitter life was for the Jews who were slaves in Egypt. Prepare the Seder Plate

Chazeret

Chazeret is another bitter herb. Some seder plates have a place to put chazeret, and other seder plates do not.

Chazeret tastes bitter, just like maror. This reminds us of how bitter life was for the Jews who were slaves in Egypt.