Passover Personality

  

   

  

 The Sedar Plate

 

Some hold true to traditions, others like to mix things up and add a little personality to their holiday celebrations. I'm big on tradition. It's important to know where you've come from and what those before you have achieved, in order to appreciate what you have.

But, I love a shiny new trend and so do my children. So, in an effort to bridge past customs with present culture, I am always on the look out for holiday traditions with a twist.

Passover is an incredible holiday. There's so much to learn, especially if you are a little kid taking his or her place at the Seder table! Fortunately, the ritual is taught through sensory experiences, as with the food on the Seder Plate and reading the Haggadah. It's pretty easy to follow and interactive as well.

I always check in with my friend Eric to find out what he has planned for Seder. Usually, he takes the Haggadah to a Broadway level, orchestrating a musical number and enrolling friends to perform, but never misses a beat on the important ceremonial points and questions.

Just last night I asked Eric, "Do you ever cross the line?" Meaning, does he offend the traditionalists at the gathering who think he is making light of the holiday?

"Often," he replied. "But most people really love it and get it, especially the kids."

That really hit home for me. After all, it's our children who carry on our family traditions. For me, it's a balance between the maintaining the sanctity of a ritual that has been passed down for centuries, and rejuvenating the spirit of the occasion as it exists today. You'll find more ideas on our Passover page and some delicious recipes in my article: Passover Recipes for the Gourmet.

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