What is Passover?
{{Infobox holiday |image = Pessach Pesach Pascha Judentum Ungesaeuert Seder datafox.jpg |caption = |holiday_name = Passover |official_name = {{lang-he|פסח}} (''Pesach'') |observedby = [[Judaism|Jews]] and [[Samaritan]]s |begins = 15th day of [[Nisan]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/jewish/first-day-of-passover |title=First day of Passover |work=timeanddate.com |accessdate=2013-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rabbinicalcollege.edu.au/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover.htm |title=What Is Passover? |publisher=Rabbinical College of Australia and N.Z. |accessdate=2013-02-17 |archive-date=2012-08-05 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805110640/http://www.rabbinicalcollege.edu.au/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> |ends = 21st day of Nisan in [[Israel]], and among some liberal [[Jewish diaspora|Diaspora Jews]]; 22nd day of Nisan outside of [[Israel]] among more traditional Diaspora Jews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/jewish/last-day-of-passover |title=Last day of Passover |work=timeanddate.com |accessdate=2013-02-17}}</ref> |celebrations = In Jewish practice, one or two festive [[Passover Seder|Seder]] meals – first two nights; in the times of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], the [[Passover sacrifice]].<br />In Samaritan practice, men gather for a religious ceremony on [[mount Gerizim]] that includes the ancient lamb [[sacrifice]]. |date2016 = sunset of Friday 22 April to nightfall of Friday 29 April&nbsp;/&nbsp;Saturday 30 April (7th day) |date2017 = sunset of Monday 10 April to nightfall of Monday 17 April&nbsp;/&nbsp;Tuesday 18 April (7th day) |date2018 = sunset of Friday 30 March to nightfall of Friday 6 April&nbsp;/&nbsp; Saturday 7 April (7th day) |type = Jewish |significance = Celebrates the [[Exodus]], the freedom from [[slavery]] of the [[Israelite|Children of Israel]] from [[ancient Egypt]] that followed the [[Exodus|Ten Plagues]].<br /> Beginning of the 49 d