Passover
Observed sundown April 8 to sundown April 16, 2009
| Annually, Passover starts at sundown on the 15th day of the Jewish lunar month Nissan, which typically falls in March or April. |
| The eight-day religious celebration symbolizes the Jewish people’s freedom from slavery and exile in Egypt in 1300 BCE. |
| Passover also is known as “Pesach,” a Hebrew word pronounced “pay-sock,” which means “to pass over” or “to spare.” |
| Passover is the oldest continuously celebrated Jewish festival. |
| Hallmark first produced Passover cards during the 1940s. |
2009 Product Features
- Hallmark’s Tree of Life brand offers 53 Passover greeting cards, including two multi-card packs.
- Tree of Life Passover cards honor Jewish heritage by combining symbols of the faith with messages that reflect the meaning and essence of the religious celebration.
- The cards showcase compelling artwork created by Jewish artists through the ages, photography with images of Jerusalem and other relevant icons, and bright colors.
- Many cards use traditional sentiments to express the religious and cultural significance of the occasion, while other greetings take a more lighthearted approach to the holiday.
Holiday History
God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, but when Moses asked the ruling pharaoh to free the people, the pharaoh refused.
God then sent 10 plagues upon the Egyptians, the last of which was a vow to send an angel of the Lord to every Egyptian home to kill the first-born son. Israelites were told to mark their doors with the blood of slaughtered lambs so that the plague would “pass over” them and spare their sons.
After the plague, the pharaoh ordered the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately. The Jewish people left in such haste that the bread they were baking had no time to rise. They packed the dough to take with them on their journey, and as they crossed the desert, they baked the dough in the hot sun, which yielded hard crackers called matzos.
The pharaoh later changed his mind and sent his army to capture the Israelites. Trapped at the shore of the Red Sea, Moses called on God's power to part the sea. The Israelites passed through before the sea crashed in and drowned the army.
In Stores
Available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and wherever Hallmark Tree of Life products are sold. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com or call 1-800-396-TREE (8733) to find the nearest Tree of Life retailer.