Passover begins with the lighting of the candles.

Typically, the privilege of candle-lighting is bestowed upon the woman of the household (e.g. matriarch), because the Lord's blessing comes into the house through woman.

If the festival falls on Shabbat she lights the candles, while there is still daylight, and then says the blessings. The first blessing, "to kindle the lights of the festival", for this occasion is as follows:

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu lehhadlik ner shel shabbat v'shel yom tov.

(BAH-ROOKH AH-TAH AH-DOH-NAI EH-LOH-HEH-NOO MEH-LECH HAH-OH-LAHM / AH-SHER KEE-DEH-SHAH-NOO BEH-MITZ-VOH-TAHV VEH-TZEE-VAH-NOO LEH-HAD-LEEK NER SHEL SHAH-BAHT VEH-SHEL YOHM TOHV)

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Shabbat and Yom Tov light.

This is then followed by the shehecheyanu blessing.

If the festival falls on any other day, she says the blessing first and then lights the candles after, or as soon as, nightfall comes. For this occasion, the first blessing is as follows:

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu lehhadlik ner shel yom tov.

(BAH-ROOKH AH-TAH AH-DOH-NAI EH-LOH-HEH-NOO MEH-LECH HAH-OH-LAHM / AH-SHER KEE-DEH-SHAH-NOO BEH-MITZ-VOH-TAHV VEH-TZEE-VAH-NOO LEH-HAD-LEEK NER SHEL SHAH-BAHT VEH-SHEL YOHM TOHV)

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Yom Tov light.