From Egypt to Iceland: The Unexpected Links Between Passover & Easter

Once upon a time-around 3,000 years ago-an entire nation of slaves packed their bags in a hurry, baked some really bad bread, and walked out of Egypt overnight. That’s the short version of Passover, but the real story is much more dramatic.

Imagine this: The Israelites (Bnei Israel - the sons of Israel), enslaved for centuries under the Pharaohs, cry out for freedom. Enter Moses, a reluctant prophet with a speech impediment and a strong sense of justice. He marches up to Pharaoh and delivers history’s most iconic ultimatum: “Let my people go!” Pharaoh, being the stubborn dictator that he is, refuses. What follows is a divine showdown of epic proportions-ten plagues that range from blood-filled rivers to an amphibian invasion (seriously, frogs everywhere). The final plague, the death of the Egyptian firstborns, finally breaks Pharaoh’s resolve. The Israelites flee so quickly that their bread doesn’t have time to rise—hence, the birth of matzah, the flat, unleavened cracker that has been causing Jewish digestive distress ever since.

Passover Today: A Feast of Symbolism (and Matzah Crumbs Everywhere)

Passover isn’t just about the escape from Egypt—it’s about remembering it in the most interactive way possible: the Seder. The Seder is a grand dinner where families retell the Exodus story, drink four cups of wine (yes, four), and eat symbolic foods that represent different parts of the story. The Seder plate includes:

• Matzah - The infamous unleavened bread of affliction.

• Maror (bitter herbs) - A reminder that slavery was, well, bitter.

• Charoset - A sweet mixture representing the mortar used by Israelite slaves (and the only part of the meal people actually want seconds of).

• Karpas (greens) - Symbolizing spring and renewal.

• Zeroa (shank bone) - Representing the Paschal sacrifice.

• Beitzah (egg) - A symbol of mourning and resilience.

The Great Afikoman Hunt

The Seder also includes a game: an adult hides a piece of matzah called the afikoman, and the children at the table must find it. Whoever does gets a prize. This tradition ensures that kids stay awake at least until the meal ends and has also turned Jewish children into expert negotiators—some hold the afikoman hostage for hefty ransoms.

Elijah the Prophet: The Most Mysterious Guest

At every Seder, an extra glass of wine is poured for Elijah the Prophet, a biblical figure said to visit every Jewish home on Passover night. The door is ceremonially opened for him, though no one has actually seen him enter (except maybe after that fourth cup of wine).

And Then Came Easter…

Here’s where things get interesting: One of the most famous meals in history—the Last Supper—was almost certainly a Passover Seder. Jesus and his disciples, all Jewish, would have sat around a table eating matzah, drinking wine, and following the same traditions that Jewish families still observe today. Easter, which celebrates Jesus’ resurrection, is deeply tied to Passover in both timing and themes-freedom, sacrifice, and renewal.

Of course, modern Easter has added its own traditions, like decorating eggs and indulging in mountains of chocolate. No one is exactly sure how that part started, but somehow, an ancient religious festival turned into an annual excuse to eat excessive amounts of bunny-shaped sweets. Not that anyone’s complaining.

So while Icelanders celebrate Easter with giant chocolate eggs and lamb dinners, Jewish families around the world break matzah and retell the Exodus story. Different foods, different customs, but at their core, both holidays mark new beginnings, resilience, and the power of a really good meal shared with loved ones.

So whether you’re biting into a páskaegg or a piece of matzah, here’s to new beginnings, old traditions, and finding the humor in them both.