Once in a while, we come across a guest Expert who has something impactful to contribute to the Savvy Auntie Community. Last year, Jewish Treats, a popular daily email and blog, offered us some wonderful Passover traditions to share with our nieces and nephews. We are happy to share more of their words of wisdom with you again.

The holiday of Passover is a celebration that speaks to every soul because each of us has had, now or at some other time in our lives, a desire for freedom. Passover is the Jewish tribute to freedom. It’s the Jewish holiday that truly celebrates what it means to be part of a greater whole, the community of the Children of Israel.

For all you Savvy Jewish Aunties, Passover is also a great opportunity for hands on activities because the festival is full of interesting rituals and customs. Here are a few suggestions on how to bond with your nieces and nephews this holiday:

Arts and Crafts

Make a Seder Plate. Go to the craft store and buy paints that are safe to use on dishware and then buy some inexpensive white plates. The Seder Plate should have five specified places, one for each of the following:

The Shank Bone
Charoset
Karpas (vegetable)
Roasted (hardboiled) egg
Maror

Roll Up Your Sleeves

Getting ready for Passover can be a lot of work, but it can also be a lot of fun. Recruit your older nieces and nephews to clean with you and make it fun by creating a "cleaning olympics" or playing their favorite music.

The Story

This is one is especially useful for the far away auntie. Over the phone, go over the story of the Exodus (dramatically of course) and, if your nieces or nephews are older, include your feelings about the freedom to celebrate Judaism. For a cheat sheet try: http://www.jewishtreats.org/2009/03/passover-story-in-brief.html

Sneaky Auntie

If you will be celebrating the Seder with your nieces or nephews, plot a strategy for stealing and hiding the afikomen from the table before everyone else does. Make sure to emphasize how fun it will be to hold the afikomen for "ransom" to their parents.

Savvy Chefs

See how creative you and your favorite little ones can be in the kitchen with only kosher-for-Passover ingredients. (It’s okay if you cheat and check out online Passover recipes, but try and spur on their creativity.)

Passover is a celebration of freedom, a national redemption from slavery and finding our true selves. Every Savvy Jewish Auntie can help their nieces and nephews learn what being Jewish is really about and why it is important for themselves and for their family.

For more Passover ideas, Follow Jewish Treats on Twitter at Twitter.com/JewishTweets.