Come Passover, many choose to wear white. Some see it as a symbol of purity and renewal. Others interpret it as a sign of mourning for the slaves in Egypt who had to work so hard that their clothes got stained. Then there are those who simply want to feel the breeze on their skin! Regardless of your particular take on tradition, we can all agree: Spring is here, and your wardrobe should reflect it!
Passover begins on the evening of April 19th, so you’ve got plenty of time to prepare for your Seder—and to plan what you’re going to wear.
Passover begins on the evening of April 19th, so you’ve got plenty of time to prepare for your Seder—and to plan what you’re going to wear. If you need a little inspiration for looking your best this spring, here are some Passover-appropriate outfits to consider.
Wear white. For Passover, many people opt for wearing white in order to evoke the purity and innocence that is being celebrated and honored during the Passover holiday. If you want your outfit to reflect the spirit of the day, then donning a chic white ensemble is a great way to do so.
For some people, that means wearing white—but does Passover have a dress code?
Some people feel that Passover is a great opportunity to throw on some white clothing, but the bottom line is that there’s no strict dress code. The midrash (ancient Jewish commentary) explains that wearing whites is a sign of purity and freedom, while wearing black signifies oppression. But this isn’t something you have to do: It’s just one suggestion for how to make your observance more meaningful.
If you do want to wear white, Passover presents the perfect opportunity: The holiday follows the spring equinox, which occurs on March 20 this year and marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Bright colors abound in nature—and if you’re like us, your closet could benefit from some new arrivals as we move out of winter fashion.
Passover is a story about slavery and freedom. There are many practices and traditions related to that story. The tradition of wearing white at Passover comes from the midrash (ancient Jewish commentary).
Passover is a holiday that celebrates the Jewish people’s freedom from slavery and is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. Passover is celebrated for eight days in Israel and for seven days in the Diaspora. During this holiday many Jews attend a Seder, which includes telling the Passover story using a book called Haggadah, which means “the telling.” The Haggadah tells about how God rescued the Jews from slavery by sending Moses to tell Pharaoh to let his people go. God sent 10 plagues to convince Pharaoh to let his people go; finally, God sent down the 10th plague, death of all firstborn sons, and then Pharaoh agreed to let Moses lead all of the Jews out of Egypt. This part of the story is at midnight on Passover eve.
The tradition of wearing white at Passover comes from the midrash (ancient Jewish commentary), which says that while they were still slaves in Egypt, some Jews would secretly don white clothes on Fridays (their Sabbath) in protest against their servitude. Even after being freed by Moses and leaving Egypt for good, those who wore white clothing continued their tradition as a symbol of hope and freedom.
We also wear white at Seder as a symbol of cleanliness (since slaves are not clean) and freedom (because slaves cannot change their clothes often).
Most people tend to wear white.
According to this story, the Israelites were forced to work so hard in Egypt that they didn’t have time to change their clothes or bathe often or wash their hands; they also were not allowed to eat or drink milk, meat and wine. Therefore, we eat milk and meat at Passover as a symbol of freedom.
In modern day, Jews don’t strictly follow all these traditions—but many still wear white on Passover night out of respect for this ancient story. Many people wear clothing inspired by the ancient Jewish priest’s tunic called a kittel. This clothing has a lot of meaning for us because it symbolizes our freedom, our new beginning and renewal after all the hard work we put in during the year.
You can dress in white like the Jews did when they fled Egypt. In modern day, Jews don’t strictly follow all these traditions—but many still wear white on Passover night out of respect for this ancient story. Many people wear clothing inspired by the ancient Jewish priest’s tunic called a kittel. This clothing has a lot of meaning for us because it symbolizes our freedom, our new beginning and renewal after all the hard work we put in during the year. You can also wear a kittel during other religious holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover.
Conclusion
The tradition of wearing white at Passover comes from the midrash (ancient Jewish commentary). The midrash explains that the Israelites were dressed in their best clothes, which were most likely white, when they left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. Even though Jews don’t strictly follow ancient traditions today, many still wear white on Passover night to honor this story and show respect for their ancestors.
So what should you wear to your seder? While there are no hard-and-fast rules, it’s customary to dress nicely (reserve those sweats for when you’re around your friends). If you have a flowing dress or a white suit lying around your closet, this is a great time to put it on! Whatever you wear, just make sure it’s comfortable — a stiff and uncomfortable outfit will interfere with your ability to sing and dance all night long!
If you’re a woman, consider wearing a relaxed-fit maxi dress that you can wear for two weeks straight. If you’re a man, go for some no-fuss comfort like loose linen pants and a linen shirt.
