Every year for Passover, my family gathers around, and we use the “fancy china,” which is my great-grandmother’s platter that we use for Seders. It has a base, and six bowls; five smaller ones for the traditional ritual items, and one slightly larger one for the tears. In one bowl goes the bitter herbs, which represents our ancestors’ bitter time in Egypt; in another goes the shank bone; in another the charoseth, a mixture of apples, walnuts and wine; another has horseradish; in another is the parsley; another has the shank bone; and the last bowl has the hard-boiled egg. The slightly larger bowl holds salt water, which we dip the parsley in when the time comes. It is a very nice set, made of crystal, that we only use for Passover. It is special to my family, because it belonged to my maternal grandfather’s mother, and her family were conservative Jews. Whenever I take out the Seder plate, I make sure to hold it tightly, and not place it down too hard on the table, making sure to take extra good care of it. Using the plate makes us feel connected to her, because we are her family, and we are continuing a tradition that was important to her. It is also special to me because I was named after her, and the plate gives me something tangible from her to hold onto.

– Megan Norat

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more