Matzo Crackers with a cup of wine

Matzo is on the menu for Passover (Picture: Getty Images)

The Jewish festival of Passover begins on Friday April 15, bringing with it plenty of celebration and festive feasting.

But it also brings a few dietary restrictions also – as Jewish people celebrating the eight-day festival refrain from eating bread and certain other foods during this time.

So just why is bread off the menu – and what will celebrants be eating instead?

Here's what you need to know about those Passover rules…

Why are Jewish people not allowed to eat bread on Passover?

The festival of Passover commemorates the story of the Exodus, when Moses rescued the Israelites from a life of slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt.

According to the story when the Israelites left Egypt they did so in such a hurry that the bread they had baked for the journey did not have time to rise properly.

A family having a Passover seder

The story of Passover is recounted at the Seder table (Picture: Getty Images)

Jewish people celebrating Passover therefore steer clear of bread for the duration of the festival to commemorate this, instead eating unleavened bread, or 'matzah' as it is known – a cracker-like flatbread which is made from flour and water and is baked just long enough to prevent it from rising.

It is not compulsary to eat matzah for the entire duration of the festival – only on the two Seder nights which kick things off.

What else are Jewish people not allowed to eat during the festival?

A Seder meal during Passover

Don't worry, there is still plenty you can eat during the festival (Picture: Getty Images)

It's not just bread which is a no-no this week, as anything made from wheat, oats, barley, rye or spelt which changes when placed in liquid is off-limits.

That means no pasta, cereal, porridge or dough which rises (so pizza is off the menu also), as well as cakes and biscuits containing flour made from any of the above, and any other manufactured food containing anything made from these.

These items are known as 'chametz' and should be avoided for the entire eight days of the festival.

During this time many people will also ensure they are completely free of chametz by only buying food which has been specially supervised as fit for use during the festival, as well as using different crockery and cutlery which they only use on Passover.

What can Jewish people eat during Passover?

A pile of matzah

You don't have to eat matzah except on the first two nights (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)

There is still plenty to tuck into over the eight days, with meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, fruit and most vegetables and nuts permitted.

There are also alternatives to flour available, including nut flours and potato flour, which can be used for baking during this time.

While certain fresh foods do not need to be specially supervised for Passover, there are still some rules surrounding what does and does not need supervision.

For more information you can check out the London Beth Din website.

Why do some people not eat rice on Passover and others do?

A bowl of rice

What's the deal with rice? (Picture: Getty Images)

Rice falls into a category of foods called Kitniyot, which also includes corn, sunflower seeds and legumes such as peas, chickpeas, beans and lentils.

It is customary among Ashkenazi Jews (those of East European descent) not to eat these foods over Passover, as there were concerns in the past that they might become contaminated with chametz while in storage or that foods resembling chametz could be made from them.

However Sephardi Jews (those of Middle Eastern, Spanish and Portuguese descent) do not follow this custom and continue to eat these foods provided they have been carefully checked for chametz beforehand.

Can you drink alcohol on Passover?

Jewish Passover attributes in composition a cup full of wine and passover matzah

Wine plays an important role in the Seder (Picture: Getty Images)

You most certainly can – alcohol is an important part of the festival, with four cups of wine being drunk by everybody at the Seder service.

That said, regular alcohol, which is largely made from grain, is off limits on Passover.

However there is plenty of good kosher for Passover wine available to buy at this time of year, along with special Passover-friendly spirits including gin, vodka and plum brandy.

So you don't need to miss out on a tipple at this time of year.

MORE : Pesach 2022: How do you wish someone a happy Passover in Hebrew?

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