Passover 2025: Dates, history & celebration

Passover is undoubtedly one of the major holidays in Judaism . For an entire week, we celebrate the liberation of the Jewish people from their slavery in Egypt.

Find out about the dates, meanings and main rituals surrounding Jewish Passover.

When does Passover take place in 2025?

How does Passover take place?

It is important to know that Passover lasts seven days in Israel, compared to eight days for Jews living in the Diaspora. This allows for a deeper appreciation of the holiday's spirit in relation to the exile from the Holy Land.

The week of Passover is divided into several parts:

• The first two and last two days are full holidays, during which all work is forbidden. These holidays are called " Yom Tov " days, and each holiday begins at nightfall and lasts until nightfall the following day.
• The four middle days (Hol Hamoëd) are intermediate days when work is permitted.

What is Passover?

A festival of remembrance, or even of freedom, Passover is an important time to remember the suffering endured by our ancestors and to celebrate the liberation of all Jews. Here is an overview of the history of Passover and its significance in the Jewish religion.

The story of Passover

For many years, the Jews were forced into slavery by the pharaohs of Egypt. They were forced to perform arduous labor and submit to the authority of the Pharaoh.

One day, God heard the distress of the Jewish people and sent Moses to deliver a message to Pharaoh. Under divine command, Moses ordered Pharaoh to free the Jewish people.

But when Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites, God unleashed ten plagues upon the Egyptian people. These ten plagues brought disease and destruction. The last of the ten plagues led to the death of all the firstborn.

Thus, the defeated Pharaoh decided to free his slaves and drove them out of Egypt. That day, hundreds of thousands of Jewish families immediately set out for the Promised Land. But in their haste, the leavened bread intended for their journey didn't even have time to rise. This is why we abstain from eating leavened products during Passover.

This is the story that we read and pass on through the reading of the Haggadah on Passover night.

Meaning of Passover

The Hebrew name “Pesach” means “leap” or “passing over,” referring to the tenth plague of Egypt. Indeed, when God killed all the firstborn in Egypt, he passed over the Jewish houses, sparing the children of Israel.

Passover has a strong symbolic meaning ; it marks the passage from slavery to freedom, the passage from winter to spring, and the crossing of the Red Sea.

By performing the various rites around Passover, Jews remember these important historical events, while celebrating their faith in God.

How to celebrate Passover?

Here are some of the rituals and celebrations surrounding the Passover festival.

Getting rid of Hametz

The celebration of Passover begins with a major cleaning in the weeks leading up to the start of the holiday in order to rid our homes of 'chametz'.

The term 'chametz' refers to leavened grain . It encompasses all products made from one of the five grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, and spelt) and obtained through fermentation. This includes bread, cereals, pasta, cakes, and even alcoholic beverages. Thus, on the eve of Passover, all 'chametz' in the home is burned (or sold to a non-Jew) and replaced with matzah for the duration of the holiday.

The Matzah

Matzah (also called "unleavened bread") is a flatbread, baked in an oven without leavening. It is eaten during the two nights of the Seder , in accordance with the commandment of the Torah. Matzah is a simple food, made only of flour and water, and symbolizes humility and submission to God.

The Seder

Among the many traditions and customs of Passover, we find the Seder. It is considered the major event of the Passover festival and is divided into fifteen stages. We celebrate the Seder on the first two nights. It is a large, festive family meal around which various rituals are performed.

Among the main rituals of the Seder dinner are:

• The Kiddush prayer;
• Reading the Haggadah, a text that recounts the Exodus from Egypt. It is important to tell and pass on the story to children during dinner;
• The Seder plate contains symbolic foods that represent different aspects of the Passover story. We consume these foods in a specific order;
• Drink four glasses of wine or grape juice to celebrate our newfound freedom.

As you may have gathered, Passover is a Jewish holiday rich in history and traditions. It is also an important commemoration for the Jewish people. We hope you have a wonderful Passover in 2025. And don't forget to wish your loved ones a happy Passover by saying " Pesach Sameah " or "Hag Pesach Sameah, " which means "Happy Passover" in Hebrew.

To learn more:
Discover the story of Purim
Discover the story of Hanukkah
How to celebrate Passover, the Jewish holiday