(male narrator) Passover is an eight-day festival celebrated each year during March or April. It honors the biblical story of the exodus, the freedom of the ancient Jews from slavery in Egypt. The Egyptian king, Pharaoh, was confronted by Moses, who demanded that Pharaoh free the Jews from slavery and allow them to leave Egypt. Pharaoh refused, and God sent ten plagues to destroy the Egyptians. To be spared from the tenth and worst plague, the Jews marked their houses so the plague would pass over them. Hence, the celebration of Passover. Finally, Pharaoh told Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt. Moses immediately commanded the Jews to pack up and head out for their journey, even telling them to not wait for their bread dough to rise. That's why throughout Passover, Jews eat flat bread called matzo. Nowadays, on the first night of Passover, Jews participate in a festive meal called a Seder, in which they retell the story of exodus and eat foods like matzo, bitter herbs, and a sweet mixture of apples, nuts and other fruits that represents the mortar used in buildings in Egypt. What foods are important in the traditions of your family and community?