Today's moment of "WTF?".....

[poltr1]

At the local Kroger this afternoon was a small cardboard display, advertising a free Haggadah book (in English and Hebrew) with the purcase of a can of Maxwell House coffee. The display also said "Happy Passover from your friends at Maxwell House". Huh? How does one have a *happy* Passover? It's like having a Happy Lent, or Happy Good Friday, or Hapy Ramadan. It's just not done!

Speaking of Passover, a question for those of you who observe it. How can you guys go for eight days on nothing but matzoh and gefilte fish? Bleah!

Comments

Not quite

[filker0.livejournal.com]

As one who observes Passover, I will take issue with the "happy", or rather the "no such thing". Passover is a festival of sorts... It is a happy occasion, at which we rejoice at not being slaves, and for many other reasons. The holiday that's never really "happy" is Yom Kippur, and that's in the fall.

How can you guys go for eight days on nothing but matzoh and gefilte fish? Bleah!

This is not quite how it is. I never eat gefilte fish myself, and matzoh can be quite tasty, especially when used as the foundation for other foods. Steak, eggs, chicken, vegetables, lamb, duck, fish, some pies and even cakes, are perfectly fine for passover fare.

Also, eight days? That's Chanukkah. Some celebrate Passover for seven nights and eight days, but not all follow that custom.

Re: Not quite

[poltr1]

You're right; matzoh isn't as bad as I make it out to be. The plain stuff is rather bland, but if it's used like crackers, yummy stuff can be put on there. (I'm partial to the "everything" matzohs, which have the same toppings as "everything" bagels. Great for snacking.)

Oh yeah. There's kosher Pepsi. And Dr. Brown's.

Re: Not quite

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Also, eight days? That's Chanukkah. Some celebrate Passover for seven nights and eight days, but not all follow that custom.

Caveat: I no longer am observant. That being said, my memory is that Pesach is an eight-day holiday, in which the first two and last two days are "full" holidays, and the middle four are "half" holidays, though I can't for the life of me describe the difference now.

I also recall quite vividly the Fast of the Firstborn, which I used to observe (primarily because, in those days, well, I was being instructed by my grandfather, who believed in doing stuff all the way), and that may have been the most difficult thing to do in all the Judaic practice that I remember. I mean, my family had a normal day, while I was fasting (and most of my Jewish friends didn't observe that fast, as we grew up Reconstructionist tending Considervative).

Pesach was a very long holiday, in those years.

Re: Not quite

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I, OTOH, just get up early and go to shul so that I don't have to fast. It's actually kinda fun; I go with my dad and an old family friend and we go out for breakfast afterwards.

But...ye gods and little fishes...6:15 in the morning...