Passover 2024 begins at sundown but when it ends depends on where you live

Passover begins at sundown Monday, but depending on where you are in the world, it may end on a different day.

Passover is a celebration of the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt thousands of years ago. It is marked by a ceremony that celebrates the Jewish Festival of Freedom. During this time, Jewish people all over the world will indulge in their history, both the good and the bad.

Here is a better understanding of the holiday and why it's celebrated for over a week in the United States.

Passover begins before sundown on Monday, April 22 and will end after nightfall on Tuesday, April 30 in the United States.

Passover is heavily tied to the lunar cycle. Thus, the dates for the celebration change every year, and this year, the dates happen to be much later than usual. The celebration starts in the middle of the month of Nisan when the moon is full. As a result, the holiday typically falls in March or April and ends up being close to Easter.

In Israel, Passover is celebrated for exactly seven days to respect the Hebrews that had to flee their homes for seven days. Jewish people that live outside of Israel celebrate the holiday for eight days per tradition.

It is believed that the Israelites were not safe from the Egyptians who pursued them when they fled until the parting of the Red Sea. The parting occurred seven days after they initially fled.

The celebration of Passover allows the Jewish people to commemorate the liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, according to britannica.com. According to the book of Exodus, in order to protect their children from the angel of death that was to pass over Egypt, they were to mark their doors with lamb's blood. The angel of death would "pass over" the doors that had lambs blood on them.

During the first few days of Passover, families will gather together for the Seder which is a meal where prayers and tradition recitations are performed.

At the meal, some families may display a Seder plate. This plate is a centerpiece that holds symbolic foods to mark the holiday. Throughout the Seder, families will move through the Haggadah, a book that contains stories, prayers, poetry and other teachings.

What foods are eaten (or not eaten) during Passover?

During Passover, many Jewish people do not eat certain leavened foods, or chametz. Matzo, an unleavened bread, is a well-known symbol of Passover.

The reason for the bread being unleavened is to pay respects to the Israelites who had to flee Egypt so quickly that they didn't have time to bake their breads. The Jewish people were unable to go back into Egypt and had to eat matzah for seven days.

Many Jewish people also avoid eating kitniyot which is legumes, beans, peas, rice, millet, corn and seeds. There was concern that kitniyot can be ground to make flower and baked, which could be mistaken for chametz. There were also concerns that grain may get mixed up if stored in close proximity.

What are the four questions of Passover?

The four questions, known by their opening words Ma Nishtana, are asked during the Seder by the children of the family. The questions are asked in reflection to remind why this night is different than other nights for the Jewish people.

The four questions translated into English:
• On all nights we need not dip even once, on this night we do so twice?
• On all nights, we eat chametz or matzah, and on this night only matzah?
• On all nights we eat any kind of vegetables, and on this night maror?
• On all nights we eat sitting upright or reclining, and on this night we all recline?