Every year, Jewish families have a special meal to remember the time when God freed their ancestors from Egypt. Ancestors are relatives who lived a long time ago. Jews believe that their ancestors were once slaves in Egypt.

When they were there, thousands of years ago, the Jewish slaves had a horrible time. That is why the horseradish tastes so horrible. The slaves had to make bricks for the king. They were beaten and treated very cruelly. The bowl of salt water reminds the family of the tears which the Jewish slaves cried. The charoset reminds them of the cement which they used between the bricks. But the charoset is sweet. This reminds them that God is good. He heard the slaves' prayers and saved them.

He sent ten plagues. During their meal, Jewish families remember these ten plagues by spilling ten drops of wine from their glasses. The wine also reminds them of the lamb's blood which the slaves painted around their doors. In the Bible story, the Jewish slaves all ate the lambs which were killed. Today the lamb's leg bone reminds Jewish families of these lambs, which were killed and eaten.

The matzos remind Jewish families that the slaves left Egypt so quickly that they did not have time to let their bread rise.

The egg and the lettuce remind them of Spring. Spring is a time when plants seem to come back to life again and baby animals and birds are born. When the Jewish slaves escaped from Egypt, they began a new life with God.

A Primary Vision resource provided by Stockport Christians in Schools Trust