Greetings
How do you say “Happy Passover”?
Jews around the world have come up with diverse Passover greetings, often involving creative blends of Hebrew and local languages. Many of these phrases were originally written in Hebrew letters or other alphabets.
Judeo-French in Bordeaux, France: Bonne fête (good holiday)
Judeo-Provençal in Avignon, France: Bon tsantou (good holiday [yom-tov])
Western Yiddish in Alsace, France: Bauet gut (build well, likely a reference to rebuilding of the Temple because of the song Adir Hu)
Judeo-Georgian in Kutaisi, Georgia: Bednieri pesach-i (happy Passover)
Judeo-Greek in Ioannina, Greece: Kalo pesach/pascha (good Passover)
Judeo-Italian in Rome, Italy: Buon mongedde (good holiday [moed])
Yiddish in Kovno, Lithuania: A zisn un koshern peysech (a sweet and kosher Passover)
Jewish Neo-Aramaic in Betanure, Iraq: Edəd patire brixa (blessed matzot festival)
Ladino in Izmir, Turkey: Men: Moadim lesimhá [times of happiness; Reply: Hagim uzmanim lesasón - holidays and times of joy]; Women: Pesach alegre (happy Passover)
Judeo-Arabic in Taroudant, Morocco: Ikun ʕlik ǝl-ʕid mḅɑṛk (blessed holiday to you)
Judeo-Tat/Juhuri in Quba, Azerbaijan: Nisonushmu shor giro (may your Passover [Nissan] pass happily)
Judeo-Persian in Tehran, Iran: Moedetun mubarak bashe (have a happy holiday [moed])
Jewish Malayalam in Parur, India: Nalle pesahә pernal (happy Passover)
Jewish Amharic in Gondar, Ethiopia: Melkam yeqita be’al (fine holiday of unleavened bread)
For more on diverse Jewish Passover traditions, see:
Abadi, Jennifer Felicia. 2018. Too Good to Passover: Sephardic & Judeo-Arabic Seder Menus and Memories from Africa, Asia and Europe. Jennifer Abadi.
Lowenstein, Steven. 2000. The Jewish Cultural Tapestry: International Jewish Folk Traditions. Oxford.
Raphael, Chaim. 1993. A Feast of History: The Drama of Passover through the Ages. Reprint edition. Bnai Brith.
Jews Around the World
- Introduction
- Kadesh
- Urchatz
- Karpas
- -- Four Questions
- Commentary / Readings
- -- Four Children
- -- Exodus Story
- -- Ten Plagues
- -- Cup #2 & Dayenu
- Rachtzah
- Motzi-Matzah
- Maror
- Shulchan Oreich
- Tzafun
- Bareich
- Hallel
- Songs
Inspired to create
your own Haggadah?
Make your own Haggadah and share with other Seder lovers around the world
Have an idea
for a clip?
People like you bring their creativity to Haggadot.com when they share their ideas in a clip
Support Us
with your donation
Help us build moments of meaning and connection through
home-based Jewish rituals.
OUR TOP CONTRIBUTORS
Passover Guide
Hosting your first Passover Seder? Not sure what food to serve? Curious to
know more about the holiday? Explore our Passover 101 Guide for answers
to all of your questions.