We all know the “Four Questions” of Passover.

But did you know there is a “Fifth” question?

Here it comes – What do you remember most from your earliest Passover seders?

I asked a few members of my family and their responses were: My husband – “Everybody had a turn reading from the Haggadah – in whatever language they wanted.” My youngest daughter – “Who could sing the entire “Who Knows One” in one breath” My son said – “Uncle Malcolm and all his jokes” My oldest daughter said – “Being with all the cousins” and what I remember most was running around with my cousins ( I have 27) to find the Afikomen.

What do you remember most from your earliest Passover seder? Do any of those memories include an heirloom, like a special seder plate, a matzoh holder, a kiddush cup or afikomen holder? I have inherited my Mother’s Silver Seder Plate which I always use at our Seder and keep in a frame hanging on our wall the rest of the year.

Once you get past the FOUR QUESTIONS, the answers take a long time. I remember my Zeidie mumbling along, oblivious as to who knew where he was or what part of the Haggadah he was reciting. My Bubbie was constantly going into the kitchen to stir something on the stove. My mother’s fresh, homemade Gefilite Fish which she made every year. My Zeidie giving out Silver Dollars after we handed over the Afikomen.

Now that my husband and I are the Zeidie and Bubbie (actually, I am a Savta), we are always looking for a way to keep the younger grandchildren involved, at least until we get to the “10 Plagues.” At that point, our youngest daughter and her husband have a collection of weird stuffed animals, marshmallows (fresh each year, representing “barad” – hail), finger puppets and toy sun glasses which have been blackened to represent darkness.

Isn’t it interesting how so many of our ritual objects are “antique” and vintage items? Why not create whimsical items which are also curiosities?

So here’s an idea: I created 10 Ceramic Story Tiles. Each one has a different symbol representing one part of the story of Moses, from birth to Mount Sinai. See my Etsy site and you will see what I mean. The tiles come in a gift bag with suggestions of how to use them in fun and meaningful ways at your Passover Seder.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JewishHeirlooms

More often than not, we remember vintage items because they were a meaningful part of our younger years. That’s the point of this blog: “Our most treasured family heirlooms are those tied in with sweet family memories.”

I would love to hear about your favorite Passover memories with your families and what different traditions you share. What is your most treasured Passover item or family memory?