Passover 2024: Why the Celebration Dates Differ Every Year
Jews worldwide will observe Passover 2024 from April 22 to April 29 or 30, depending on the location. This year’s celebration comes later than usual due to the lunisolar calendar, which aligns with the phases of the Moon and the Sun’s position.
Passover Seder, a central part of the Passover celebration, marks the Israelites’ journey to freedom from slavery in Egypt. The Seder is observed on the first two nights of Passover and involves a festive meal and the recitation of the Haggadah, a religious text that retells the story of the Exodus.
The Hebrew calendar, which determines the dates of Passover Seder, follows a lunisolar cycle. This means that Passover is celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, which is the first full moon after the spring equinox. The moon cycle lasts approximately 29.5 days, so the date of the full moon varies each year.
Passover Seder is celebrated for seven or eight days because, although the Israelites left Egypt on the first day of Passover, they were pursued by the Egyptians until the parting of the Red Sea, which occurred seven days later.
During the Seder, families gather for a festive meal and partake in various traditions. The meal includes six symbolic foods that signify the Israelites’ liberation, including matzah (unleavened bread), shank bone, egg, bitter herbs, charoset, and vegetables. Certain foods made with leavened bread and grain are avoided during Passover, as they represent having an ego.
Passover is a significant holiday in the Jewish calendar and is universally observed by Jews of all backgrounds. It is a time for reflection, remembrance, and celebration of the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery.
