The Jewish Book of Why says this:
Q: Why is a tray of symbolic foods placed at the head of the Seder table?
A: A Passover tray (Seder tray), which usually has six circular indentations, is placed on the Seder table so that the various symbolic foods can be displayed individually and prominently. They are pointed to during the reading of the Seder service and the symbolism of each is explained. The symbolic foods are:
Maror (bitter herbs)
Karpas (a vegetable)
Chazeret (a second more bitter vegetable)
Charoset (a nut and apple mixture)
Zeroa (the shankbone or neck of poultry, roasted)
Baytza (a hard-boiled egg, browned in its shell)
Q: Why is a roasted hard-boiled egg (baytza) placed on the Seder tray?
A: The egg is symbolic of the regular festival sacrifice brought in days when the Temple stood in Jerusalem. On Passover, in addition to this regular sacrifice (Korban Chagiga in Hebrew), the paschal lamb was offered as a second sacrifice. Some authorities have interpreted the roasted egg as being a symbol of mourning for the loss of two Temples that once stood in Jerusalem. (The first was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E., the second by Romans in 70 C.E.) With the Temples destroyed, sacrifices could no longer be offered. The egg symbolized this loss and traditionally became the food of mourners. In some Middle Eastern communities, eggs are very popular on Passover. Kurdish Jews and Libyan Jews, in particular, eat large quantities of eggs at the Seder.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Origin of the Easter Egg
The boys and I had fun discovering the traditions associated with the Easter Egg. This year we are going to write "He is risen" on our eggs and try to follow some of the traditions we learned about. The Origin of the Easter Egg
Today we are trying to get a few eggs colored using natural dyes. I am sure that by the time all is said and done, my kitchen will be colored as well!
Today we are trying to get a few eggs colored using natural dyes. I am sure that by the time all is said and done, my kitchen will be colored as well!
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patrick's Day
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Today is St. Patrick's day....the patron Saint of my middle son. St. Patrick taught the people of Ireland about the Blessed Trinity - Three persons in One God by using a shamrock. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This year we have shamrocks growing in a container (how they survived until St. Patrick's day is beyond me!).
St. Patrick explained how God is three beings unified in one. We do not believe in three Gods, but that like the shamrock, God is one with three parts. As you can see in the pictures below, the boys had fun with Henry and the shamrocks. Henry loves eating the shamrocks!
Today is St. Patrick's day....the patron Saint of my middle son. St. Patrick taught the people of Ireland about the Blessed Trinity - Three persons in One God by using a shamrock. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This year we have shamrocks growing in a container (how they survived until St. Patrick's day is beyond me!).
St. Patrick explained how God is three beings unified in one. We do not believe in three Gods, but that like the shamrock, God is one with three parts. As you can see in the pictures below, the boys had fun with Henry and the shamrocks. Henry loves eating the shamrocks!
