Last day of Passover in United Kingdom

Passover begins on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan. Some Jewish people in the United Kingdom (UK) observe seven days of Passover and others observe it for eight days. The Last Day of Passover in the UK may be on the 21st or 22nd day of Nisan.

Pictured above is an example of a family meal during the Passover period.

©iStockphoto.com/pushlama

What do people do?

According to Jewish tradition, the seventh or seventh and eighth days of Passover are regarded as days of rest. People of Jewish faith do not work during this period. They eat a ceremonial meal, known as a Sedar, with family members and close friends in the evening. Synagogues and Jewish community groups may organize communal Sedars on some or all the days of Passover.

Communal Sedars are organized in Birmingham, London, Manchester and other cities with large Jewish populations. Communal Sedars may be particularly important for Jewish people living alone or a long way from other members of the Jewish community.

Public life

The Last Day of Passover is not a public holiday in the UK. Jewish schools and businesses may be closed or have restricted opening hours during the Passover period, particularly on the First and Last Days of Passover.

Background

Passover is related to the Christian observances of Good Friday and Easter Sunday and the Islamic Day of Ashura. Read about other Jewish observances, such as Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day), Purim, Yom HaShoah, Lag B'Omer, Shavuot, Tisha B'Av and Rosh Hashana.

Symbols

Symbols of the Last Day of Passover include matzoh crackers and other ceremonial foods that people eat at Passover and the Sedar plate used to serve them.

About Last day of Passover in other countries

Last day of Passover Observances

Other holidays in April 2013 in United Kingdom

• Easter Monday ―Monday, April 1, 2013
• Yom HaShoah ―Monday, April 8, 2013
• Yom HaAtzmaut ―Tuesday, April 16, 2013
• St. George's Day ―Tuesday, April 23, 2013
• Shakespeare Day ―Tuesday, April 23, 2013
• Lag B'Omer ―Sunday, April 28, 2013