Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Passover Preparing for the Seder Meal Checklist The Seder is the most important event in the Passover celebration, but there’s more than a few components to this intricate ritual. Use this checklist to keep track of everything from the wine glasses to the prayer books for a seamless Seder. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 18, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Papercut Tableware Tablecloth and napkinsPassover is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Jewish faith, so it's customary to dress up the table with an elegant tablecloth and cloth napkins.CandlesScatter candles throughout the room and on the table for a warm glow.Kosher dishes and utensilsWhether you choose formal china or everyday dishware, don't forget to keep kosher for the Seder.GlasswarePut two glasses, one for water and one for wine, at each place setting.An extra wine gobletFill an additional wine glass and place it in the center of the table for Elijah, a prophet who is thought to visit each Seder dinner. Food and Beverages Seder plateSet the Seder plate, filled with foods that symbolize the story of the Exodus, near the Seder leader's place at the table. Arrange five items on the plate: a hard-boiled egg; a roasted shank bone; a spring vegetable such as parsley, called karpas; a mixture of fruit, wine, and nuts, called charoset; and either prepared or fresh horseradish, called maror. Some Jews include a sixth item called chazeret, often represented by lettuce.Salt waterProvide each guest with a small dish of salt water to dip their greens into.Additional dishes of karpas, charoset, and marorTo make things more convenient for guests, you can also set small dishes containing each item next to every place settingMatzahPut three pieces of matzah on a plate, cover with a cloth or napkin, and place underneath or near the Seder plate.WineMake sure there is enough wine on the table for each guest to have four glasses, an amount that symbolizes the four stages of the Exodus. Substitute grape juice for the children and the teetotalers of the group. Miscellaneous Copies of the HaggadahLay a copy of the Haggadah, a prayer book that explains the story of the Israelites' slavery in Egypt, on top of each guest's appetizer plate, under the napkin.Basin and towelPlace a small basin filled with warm water and a towel on the table for two hand-washing rituals that occur during the meal.PillowsIt's traditional for each guest to recline on a pillow during the ceremony to symbolize the comfort of freedom. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit