Do Jews celebrate Easter?

Passover

Passover (Pesach) falls on the 15th of Nisan, in the spring, and lasts seven days in Israel and eight outside it. It celebrates the Exodus: “This day shall be to you one of remembrance: you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord throughout the ages” (Exodus 12:14). It is marked by the seder meal, matzah, and removing all leaven from the home.

The connection

The early Christians were Jews, and the Gospels place Jesus’ last supper and death at Passover time. The Christian Easter date was later calculated separately from the Jewish calendar, which is why Easter and Passover often fall close together but not always on the same week. In many European languages the word for Easter comes from Pesach (Pascha, Pâques, Pascua).

Respect

As with Christmas, Jews do not take part in Easter’s religious rites, while respecting Christian neighbours. Passover itself has a universal message of freedom that many people of other faiths appreciate.

Where the dates differ

Passover begins on 15 Nisan, a full moon in the Jewish lunar calendar; Western Easter falls on the Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, and Orthodox Easter uses the Julian calendar. In most years Passover and Western Easter fall within a week of each other; in some years, when the Jewish calendar has a leap month, Passover is a month later.

Practical questions

Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies have nothing to do with Passover, but eggs do appear on the seder plate as a symbol of mourning and of the festival offering. During Passover observant Jews avoid leaven, so a Jewish guest at an Easter meal will often decline bread and cake, and kosher-for-Passover food is needed. Greetings such as “Happy Passover” or “Chag Sameach” are appropriate for Jewish friends.