Last day of Passover in United States

Many Jewish communities in the United States mark the last day of Passover as the end of a Jewish holiday that celebrates the deliverance of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Passover meals may include wine and unleavened bread. ©iStockphoto.com/Pears2295

What do people do?

Passover lasts for up to eight days (or seven days among Reform Jewish groups). There are many Jewish people who adhere to most of the Sabbath observances during the last day of Passover. Some may take a holiday around this time of the year. It is also a time for Jewish people to recite special blessings or prayers, as well as visit a synagogue or listen to readings from the Torah and eat a ceremonial meal.

Many Jewish families in the United States eat a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, which involves telling the story of the exodus from Egypt as well as eating various symbolic foods, such as meat of the paschal lamb and bitter herbs (recalling the harsh life of slavery). 

Public life

None of the Passover days are federal holidays in the United States. However, many Jewish businesses and organizations are closed for some of the days or have restricted opening hours on others.

Background and symbols

Passover celebrates Jewish people’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is one of the three pilgrim festivals.  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.

About Last day of Passover in other countries

Last day of Passover Observances

Other holidays in April 2012 in United States

• April Fool's Day ―Sunday, April 1, 2012
• Palm Sunday ―Sunday, April 1, 2012
• Pascua Florida Day ―Monday, April 2, 2012
• World Autism Awareness Day ―Monday, April 2, 2012
• United Nations' Mine Awareness Day ―Wednesday, April 4, 2012
• Maundy Thursday ―Thursday, April 5, 2012
• Good Friday ―Friday, April 6, 2012
• United Nations' World Health Day ―Saturday, April 7, 2012
• Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide ―Saturday, April 7, 2012
• Holy Saturday ―Saturday, April 7, 2012
• First day of Passover ―Saturday, April 7, 2012
• Easter Sunday ―Sunday, April 8, 2012
• Easter Monday ―Monday, April 9, 2012
• International Day of Human Space Flight ―Thursday, April 12, 2012
• Friday the 13th ―Friday, April 13, 2012
• Orthodox Good Friday ―Friday, April 13, 2012
• Orthodox Holy Saturday ―Saturday, April 14, 2012
• Orthodox Easter ―Sunday, April 15, 2012
• Father Damien Day ―Sunday, April 15, 2012
• Patriot's Day ―Monday, April 16, 2012
• Emancipation Day ―Monday, April 16, 2012
• Orthodox Easter Monday ―Monday, April 16, 2012
• Tax Day ―Tuesday, April 17, 2012
• Yom HaShoah ―Wednesday, April 18, 2012
• Global Youth Service Day ―Friday, April 20, 2012
• San Jacinto Day ―Saturday, April 21, 2012
• Earth Day ―Sunday, April 22, 2012
• Oklahoma Day ―Sunday, April 22, 2012
• Confederate Memorial Day ―Monday, April 23, 2012
• World Book and Copyright Day ―Monday, April 23, 2012
• Administrative Professionals Day ―Wednesday, April 25, 2012
• World Malaria Day ―Wednesday, April 25, 2012
• Yom HaAtzmaut ―Thursday, April 26, 2012
• World Intellectual Property Day ―Thursday, April 26, 2012
• Arbor Day ―Friday, April 27, 2012
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work ―Saturday, April 28, 2012
• Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare ―Sunday, April 29, 2012
• Confederate Memorial Day ―Monday, April 30, 2012
• International Jazz Day ―Monday, April 30, 2012