Passover (which begins tonight) is an eight-day festival in the Jewish religion. It honors the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.

Passover is typically celebrated by Jewish families on the first two nights when seders are held to retell the story of the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt. A seder is the festive meal eaten in remembrance of the hardships that faced the Jews' ancestors. During the meal, the youngest child is prompted to ask four questions to the adults about the significance of the Passover symbols. Families also say prayers and read stories during the meal to tell the story of the Exodus.

Passover is also known by many as the holiday for which Jewish people eat matzo and other special "kosher for Passover" food items. This is because the Israelites were in such a hurry to leave Egypt that they could not wait for the bread to rise. Hence, Jews eat matzo (or unleavened bread) and are not allowed to eat any "chametz" during Passover.  Chametz is leavened grain, or any food or drink that contains wheat, barley, rye, or oats. During the weeks prior to Passover, observant Jewish families clean their homes to get rid of any crumbs or traces of chametz.

Happy Passover!