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Passover is held as one of the major Festivals and Events in Israel, as it stems from one of the most important events in Jewish history. The festival owes its origin to the Exodus before which God passed over the houses of the Jews, thus sparing their firstborns. Passover is thus a festival to recall the day when God showered his mercy on the Jews, so as to liberate them from the slavery in Egypt. The Bible narrates how God passed over the houses whose doorsteps were smeared with the blood of the Passover lamb. The Biblical episode stands as a manifestation of the divine mercy which saved the Jews and gave them a new life through the Exodus. Passover in Israel, as in the other parts of the globe, begins on the fifteenth day of Nissan. Though the countries outside Israel observe the festival for eight days, Passover of Israel lasts for a week, the entire of which is spent in a spirit of celebration. Like the other Jewish festivals, Passover too involves a number of customs, most of which are continuations of a Biblical tradition. For instance, eating matzos, which forms the principal custom of Passover, is actually a symbolic gesture to commemorate the fact that the Jews had dined with the bread on the day before the Exodus. As there was not enough time to puff their bread before they fled, the flat bread, or Matzos had fed the Jews before they headed across the Red Sea. Eating the bread therefore is a staple custom in Passover in Israel, and beyond. The week before the Passover is spent in cleansing the house of any chametz or leaven, as the ancient Jews had dined with bread devoid of it. The days before the festival are therefore devoted to a thorough cleaning of the house and any product made from wheat, rye, barley, or oats is either burnt or sold to a non-Jew, so as to purify the house. Passover of Israel comprises of a number of other events like the fast of the firstborns on the night before the festival. Feasting stands as a major past of Passover, and sumptuous family meals followed by abundant wine drinking is a general custom for the Jews during the week. As the festival stems from the Exodus, the Jews find it an ideal occasion for narrating the episode to their children.
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