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Pesach arrives on the evening of 8 April 2009, though of course it's always 14 Nisan on the Hebrew calendar.

What are some customs that you and/or your family have, that you think are cool?

What are the foods you associate with Passover? Do you have a "set" menu most years, or do you try something new every year?

What's the most fun or meaningful Passover experience you can recall having?

Do you have a seder you can attend? If not, post, and we'll all try to help you find one nearby.

Are you able to host guests for one or both sedarim? Post how many, if you're willing to have Gaians over.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

Growing up in an anti-Orthodox home, I never once saw anyone clean up, light candles, abstain from eating leavened bread. I've never been to a seder, celebrated Sukkot, made a noise when someone said Haman...

I kinda missed out on the Jewish childhood thing. I celebrate Yom Kippur fully, but that's it. This year though, I'm gonna force Someone to celebrate. I feel like I should, if only once.

Lumanny:
Is there something terribly wrong with getting your parents to get you a train ticket instead of a plane ticket? Sure, it's a couple days of travel, but it could save you a lot of anguish, and the train is a bit less expensive nowadays.

Behatzlacha-S:
Take a little trip to http://www.chabad.org and see if there's a seder anywhere near you. Actually, scratch that -- see if there's a Chabad within 200 miles. Then call them and ask them to find you a place to go for Pesach, since your family are so anti-observance. Chabadniks are ALWAYS looking for a Jew who's never celebrated Pesach or Shabbat, wanting to extend the warm hand of outreach to someone who's been cut off from their heritage. They'll adore you!

Throbs:
I ADORE Maimouna. It's big in Sephardi/Mizrachi communities. This year I'm inviting my buddies over to celebrate with me, a family of five including two noisy kids (brain-chemistry-induced behavioral problems, but they are so sweet when their chemical balance isn't off), one quiet teenager, and the two adults who are our best friends.

Passover customs? at MY house?

Lets see...

for 2 days prior, my mother will take over the kitchen... take all the work upon herself and then complain that no one would help her but never requesting or accepting any help... so basically there's a 2 day running argument full of drama and demands and half the prepared food is thrown out because she won't care if anyone gets to eat.

It's part of the traditions....

On the night of passover...
My brother will keep interrupting, demanding to eat. Sometimes he will play Tetris on his cell phone because he's bored.
My father will want to go to bed, because he's getting tired and can't stay up that long.
My mother will rush me leading the service and encourage me to skip large chunks of the Hagaddah in order to expedite the meal that she spent 2 days cooking.

And I of course, will get to a point when I'm like the rest of them... and no longer care about the pomp and fanfare and just get it over with so I can go upstairs and try to put the whole thing behind me, and see if I can go somewhere else for the 2nd night because my family doesn't do a second night because we almost kill one another just trying to do the first.

Ahh... Forced Family Fun... Putting the FUN in DysFUNction.

And they wonder why I decided to go all 'skin-head'

My only passover custom is nomming matzo (<333333333333333 for teh matzo).

I might celebrate with the local Synagogue. They're reconstruction, I believe, but they're cool.

I highly doubt anyone's anywhere near enough to celebrate with me lol. I could convert my living room into a guest room (lotsa carpeted floor space), but I doesn't have extra beds, or even a dining area. XD

Sorry, but the train from Ireland to New Tork is a long ride. I have been called a matzoh - maniac out loud, but only aftr I'm thought of as a psycho by everyone hearing my pained shreiks on the plane. gonk

I HATE PASSOVER. I do. Even though I try so scrupulously hard and naturally love Judaism, I can't bear one of the biggest Jewish Holidays.

I just HATE it. Sorry.

I just found out that there's a chabad group down the street from my mum. That's kinda cool.

DD and Behatz, I'm so glad you've got places you can go for at least one seder!

I'm finding out whether any of my relatives will be showing up, but if they don't, I'll have spots for two visitors at my table. There's only one guest room, though, so if you're going to share it, you must either be the same gender, or one another's parent/child or spouse.