We've already shown you some pretty Seder plates, but we've haven't yet talked about what goes on them. Those who grew up celebrating Passover can probably recite the traditional items in their sleep. But you may not be aware that some Jews are adding and substituting new items to bring additional meaning to their Passover rituals.
And, if you've never been to a Seder before, you might be lost entirely. So we've put together a mini guide to the traditional and new additions on a Seder Plate.
Traditional Items
• Charoset - Apples, Walnuts, and Honey
This chopped, sweet mixture symbolizes the mortar of the Temple.
• Karpas - A Vegetable
Parsley, celery, or potato is used as a symbol of spring, which is dipped into salt water, symbolizing the tears of the enslaved Jews.
• Maror - Bitter Herbs
These remind us of the bitterness of slavery. Frequently this is romaine lettuce (whose roots are bitter) or ungrated horseradish root.
• Zeroa - The Shankbone
A roasted shankbone symbolizes the sacrificial lamb that was offered in the Temple.
• Beitzah - The Egg
Not only a symbol of spring and new life, the egg also represents the second offering in the Temple.
• Chazeret - Bitter Herbs Eaten with Matzo
During the ritual, you will make a sandwich of matzo, bitter herbs, and charoset. Not everyone includes Chazeret on their Seder plate; Many of those who do say this must be very bitter uncooked horseradish, with no beet juice or other sweeteners added. Others specifically choose sweetened horseradish to make it more palatable.
New Additions:
Passover celebrates the end of slavery for Jews in Egypt, so naturally much of the discussion centers around freedom and oppression. As part of this discussion, some Jews choose to add or substitute additional items that represent their political beliefs and spark conversation.
• The Orange Many will tell you that the orange represents women, and feminism. A false myth circulates, saying that a man angrily told Jewish scholar Susannah Heschel that "A woman belongs on the bimah like an orange belongs on the Seder plate," and that's why feminists today include an orange. However Heschel herself repudiates this myth, saying that she added the orange to honor lesbians and gay men.
• The Olive In the early 90s, American Jews working to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands started adding an olive to their seder plates, to remember the economic insecurity caused by the destruction of olive trees, a historical symbol of hope for many people in the region. Some now erroneously believe that the olive was added as a symbol of peace in the Middle East.
• The Beet Vegetarians who do not wish to add the shank bone instead substitute a roasted beet, citing the Talmud, Tractate 114b.
• The Flower or the Seed If you're vegan, the traditional egg needs to leave the Seder plate as well. You can use a purely decorative egg, as we have in the picture above, but some choose to go further. Since the egg represents spring and new life, a flower or seed is often substituted.
What's on your family's Seder plate? What sparks the most discussion?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
We have all the traditional items, but we don't have chazeret, and we use horseradish for maror. The symbolic foods were decided on in the 12th century, which in the scheme of things is relatively recent. I don't see any reason why we can't come up with new traditions. Maybe 900 years from now, people will insist that the seder plate looks naked without an orange.
view Julie's profile
this brought back memories from my childhood of when my grandmother, who is jewish, would have me and my siblings celebrate passover with her.
thanks for the lovely explanation now I know the meaning behind the food.
view Sumhope's profile
The egg does not symbolize spring at all. The egg symbolizes the ritual sacrifice made to God by the Jews (animals were sacrificed in those times) and also symbolizes mourning. A flower doesn't exactly communicate ritual sacrifice or mourning. Maybe vegans who want to celebrate the holiday should just get over themselves?
view Schwartz's profile
Symbols mean different things to different people. One symbol does not fit all. My daughter's father in law is very Kosher and also a highly esteemed professor of Judaic and Biblical Studies. I recall the eggs they serve are "symbols of Spring and regeneration." They use a real lamb shank and I use a carrot. I symbolize the ritual slaughter with a cherry filled jello lamb and a big butcher knife at the end of the Seder. It is not my holiday and I have tried to honor it for my husband, children and extended family I was worried that my academic new relative might find my jello lamb offensive and my daughter reported that he liked to see families make the holiday their own. Our celebrations together have been filled with graciousness, historical and family tradition and joy in being together, which is what Passover is about.
view Kate (NC)'s profile
I have my own spin on the orange - that it represents the turning, retelling and re-appropriation that is at the core of much of Jewish practice. The orange originally came about as a complex reaction to the idea of putting a crust of bread on the Seder plate as a comment on how gays and lesbians are perceived by the Jewish community. The fact that the orange has taken on different meanings for different people, and the story has become so convoluted, is a beautiful symbol itself for the progress of Jewish ideas and practices. We Jews are not as wedded to the true history as we sometimes think, and that is in and of itself something powerful to symbolize.
view gStar's profile
I would like to see about using that great image of a seder plate with alternative symbolic foods. Where would I get permission?
view Lisa K.C. 's profile