Naomi and I are off to my parents' for the Seder. Those who are looking for a serious discussion of the holiday can read last year's musings or Imshin's typically perceptive comments, but for now I'll leave you with one question to ponder:
Like Chanukah, Passover falls near a prominent Christian holiday that, at least in the United States, has become commercialized. Some American Jewish families have adapted Chanukah to commercial pop culture by installing a "Chanukah bush" and telling their children that the "Chanukah fairy" delivers presents. As yet, however, there doesn't seem to be any Jewish substitute for the Easter Bunny.
So what's an assimilated family to do? Naomi favors the Passover Frogs - there's even a ready-made song - while I think a suitable mascot would be plague-ridden cattle. Any other suggestions?
Happy Passover!
Posted by: Al-Muhajabah at April 5, 2004 03:29 PMWhat about the goat of had gadya fame? Hag kasher ve-sameah.
Posted by: si at April 5, 2004 08:09 PMMy parents have a Hanukah cactus, but there's a lot of sarcasm in that. It's a little dangerous to decorate too!
Posted by: Snobby at April 5, 2004 11:14 PMHag same'ah Jonathan!
Posted by: Lawrence of Cyberia at April 6, 2004 02:08 PMYul Brynner pinatas?
Posted by: Norbizness at April 6, 2004 02:08 PMDon't sink so low as to emulate pop-culture. Happy Passover.
Posted by: siofra at April 6, 2004 02:52 PMInstead of Yul Brynner pinatas, how about Charlton Heston pinatas?
Hag sameah!
Posted by: Snobby at April 6, 2004 03:36 PMWhatever you might think of Charlton Heston's politics, beating up on Moses just isn't kosher.
Posted by: Geoff at April 6, 2004 04:19 PMHappy Passover.
Posted by: Zack at April 6, 2004 05:59 PMPlagues of frogs may still be a problem in Germany. On a fairly rural road along a river in the Saarland last week, we went by a highway sign with a frog inside a red delta shape, pretty clearly meaning "Danger: Frogs". How they might pose a danger was left to our imaginations, though, as we didn't see any.
My best wishes on the holiday!
On a fairly rural road along a river in the Saarland last week, we went by a highway sign with a frog inside a red delta shape, pretty clearly meaning "Danger: Frogs". How they might pose a danger was left to our imaginations, though, as we didn't see any.
Maybe it was a reference to Germany's western neigh... oh, never mind.
Well, plush lambs (certified kosher for Pesach) could be marketed to both religious demographics, and they'd be adorable on a Seder plate complete with a blue-and-white dyed egg.
Posted by: Naomi Chana at April 9, 2004 10:47 PM