Lent nears its end for Christians, but another holy time, Passover, is right around the corner for another religion, Judaism.
The Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, celebrate some of the most important holidays in their respective religions around the same time, with Lent, Ramadan, and Passover sometimes overlapping or weeks apart.
Ramadan ended on Thursday, March 19, and Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr to cap off the season.
Holy Week begins on March 29 with Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of the end of the Lenten season. Easter Sunday will cap off festivities on April 5.
That leaves Passover. When does it start, and what is Passover?
When is Passover?
Passover, or Pesach, starts on April 1 and lasts eight days for diaspora Jews and seven days in Israel, according to Chabad.org.
The holiday lands on the evening preceding the 15th day of Nissan, or the first month of the Hebrew calendar.
What is Passover?
Passover is the anniversary of the Jewish Exodus. In the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament for Christians, the Hebrews escaped slavery in Egypt.
The holiday commemorates the event every year with prayer and celebration.
During the time, Jews cannot eat chametz, or anything containing risen grains such as breads, pastas, cakes, or cookies.
Before the holiday begins, homes are cleaned, kitchens are purged, and any remaining chametz is burned or sold, according to Chabad.org.
A Seder, or a ritualistic feast, is held on the first two nights, with staple foods and drinks, including four cups of wine, dipping vegetables in saltwater, and matzah.
The last two days of Passover, or Yom Tov, commemorate when Moses parted the Red Sea and led his people to freedom. Practitioners of the Jewish faith traditionally refrain from working, recite special holiday prayers, study the Torah, and women and girls will often light candles on the eve of both days.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: When does ‘Passover’ start and what is the Jewish holiday?
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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