When Does Passover 2019 Start And What Is It?

When the sun sets on Friday, April 19, it will mark the beginning of Passover, one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the escape of their ancestors from Egypt under the pharaoh and their return to Israel.

The holiday officially lasts eight days but many Jews – particularly in the United States – mark just the first two nights.

Here's a brief guide to the holiday, from when it starts to the traditions associated with it:

WHEN DOES IT START?

It starts at sundown on Friday and lasts for a week.

SUNDOWN? WHY DOES IT START AT SUNDOWN?

In Judaism, it's not only the holidays that start at sundown but every day. In the Book of Genesis, it says that "it was evening and it was morning." So, Jews consider that to mean that the evening comes first and then morning and that's how the days are marked. It's something that has also taken on the added meaning of, things may seem dark at first, but there will be light and it will get better.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS PASSOVER?

Did you see The Ten Commandments? That's pretty much the story. It commemorates Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt and back to Israel. It is the story with the 10 plagues and, while in the desert, the Jews receive the Ten Commandments.

ISN'T THERE SOMETHING ABOUT BREAD?

The story has it that the Jews were in such a rush to leave Egypt with the Pharoah's army chasing them, that they did not have time for the bread to rise. So, Jews remember that by only eating unleavened bread – or matzoh – for the week.

TELL ME ABOUT THE SEDER

The Seder is the traditional meal each night of Passover. During the meal, there is a combination of special readings that tell the story of the escape from Egypt but also special foods that are used to illustrate parts of the story; bitter herbs, for instance.

SPECIAL READINGS?

The story of Passover is relayed in a book called The Haggadah, which is Hebrew for "the telling." It tells the story of life in Egypt, the exodus into the desert, and the return to Israel. It is a mixture of stories, prayers, and song.

THE LAST SUPPER?

Not everyone realizes this but many people believe the Last Supper was actually a Passover Seder. The Gospels of Luke, Mark, and Matthew all refer to Jesus having a Passover meal with the apostles.

DID THIS ALL REALLY HAPPEN?

Depends who you ask but the historic record has come up short on proof of the enslavement of the Jews in Egypt and their escape. Many historians now consider it to be have been a story that got developed and passed down through generations to help establish a Jewish national identity.