A hostess gift for a Passover Seder can be tricky. Here’s what you need to know.
You’ve been invited to a Passover Seder. And being the good guest that you are, you don’t want to show up empty-handed. Passover comes with a pretty specific set of rules and customs and lots of restrictions (no bread or pasta for a week!) and figuring out what it is you should bring isn’t easy.
Don’t panic. You’ve got options. Here are some things any Seder host will appreciate.
Kosher Wine
Bringing a bottle of wine when you’re invited to someone’s home is pretty much always a good idea. On Passover, it’s an especially good idea since during the Seder, it’s customary to drink four cups of wine. (Don’t worry, they can be small. Or big. You do you.)
If you’re not sure how observant your hosts are, go with kosher wine. Most bigger wine stores will carry it, and to find it, just ask someone who works in the shop. If the group you’ll be with isn’t particularly religious, pick something everyone will like. Or, better yet, ask what you can bring.
Pro tip: Red or white wine will be appreciated, but red has significance during the Seder.
Food
This one is a bit trickier. While it’s easy to dismiss bread, other items are more complicated. Certain Jews eat rice during the holiday, while others don’t. There’s some debate over things like corn, beans, and quinoa as well. If you’d like to make something, ask your host what you can bring, and be specific.
If you’d like to contribute to the Seder itself, ask if your host needs hard-boiled eggs. They’re an important part of the meal and easy to make. Bring them on a pretty egg platter, and let your host keep it for next year!
Dessert
Lots of pastries and desserts are chametz (a no-go), but candies (make sure they’re kosher for Passover!) or a fruit salad are all options that are on the table. Again, ask your host to make sure what you’re planning to bring is okay!
Flowers
Part of Passover is marking the beginning of spring. And flowers are always a great contribution to any holiday. Pick up a bouquet, and if you want to give something they’ll be able to keep, put it in a vase.
Chag sameach!