This past weekend two holidays occurred. That’s right — two. Easter and Passover.
These two holidays usually always overlap in the month of April. One celebrates the biblical rising of Jesus and the other celebrates when slaves were freed from Egypt.
Both are central holidays to different religions, but they should both be recognized and celebrated.
This weekend I decided to be a bit untraditional and participate in Easter activities instead of going home for Passover Sedar. While I don’t regret going the more common route with my holiday weekend, it does seem few people realized Passover even existed this past weekend.
Lindsay Trombly | Argonaut
Only two people told me happy Passover, and they were my parents. On Friday I walked around campus seeing churches advertise Easter services, but I found nothing dedicated Passover. I still find papers for advertising Easter service on the campus sidewalks.
But what about Passover? Has it just been forgotten? Or is it just because I am in Moscow?
Growing up with a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, I celebrate Christmas every year but haven’t ever celebrated Easter. Because of that, I’ve always had a fascination with the Easter bunny.
What is with the candy? The Easter baskets? Even Easter egg hunts?
Passover has no bunny. Although we do have an afikomen, a type of flatbread, that gets hidden with a gift for the child who finds it. My brother and I would always hunt for this treasure when we were younger. Whoever found it won a prize. This is just one aspect where this holiday is celebrated quite differently from Easter.
Passover is a moment of celebration with family. It has always been one of the most important holidays of the Jewish tradition. Yet, at times, it was easy for me to forget that.
Things need to change. I’ve written different columns about the Jewish community and its importance. The importance on equality — having equal opportunity for all.
Religious groups seem to be very central to campus culture — but at times such as Easter, it’s a bit uncomfortable for me. Where is a celebration for Passover? Where is at least a simple representation of the holiday or even students saying have a great holiday weekend?
This weekend it simply felt forgotten.
Neither of these holidays is more important than the other but there needs to be equal representation — especially for what they stand for.
Even though these holidays are vastly different in religious aspects they both have something central in common. That commonality is spending time with loved ones —friends or family. I think at times people often forget this important and why we celebrate holidays in the first place.
This just makes them that much more important.
Yet, Easter made me forget at times that it was also Passover and I don’t ever want to forget a holiday that is a part of who I am.
Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lindsay_trombly