DIY: Afikomen bag
A special way for children to prepare for your Passover Seder
I think most children will agree that the hunt for the afikomen is the most anticipated part of the Passover Seder. Set on the Seder table under a matzah cover are three pieces of matzah. The top and bottom matzahs symbolize the two loaves of challah for Shabbat. The middle piece of matzah - and the most special - represents Passover. During the Seder, this middle piece is broken in half to become the afikomen (dessert!) and hidden. The Seder can only end once the afikomen is found later by a child, shared and tasted by all.
We think part of the excitement of Passover is getting ready, and it’s special when children take part in helping. One special way they can do this is by making a DIY afikomen bag, which will later be used to hide and seek the afikomen. So let’s go make one!
DIY Afikomen Bag
For each bag you will need:
1 - 9” x 12” piece of felt
Needle
Yarn
Decorations (fabric pieces, sequins, gems, lace, shaped flowers, pom poms, and felt stickers)
Scissors
Glue
I love watching children imagine and create. This is a process art activity. So part of the fun is exploring all your materials and making it together. Also, if it’s easier for your family, you can skip the sewing step and use glue on the seams instead too.
Here are the steps:
All done!
We hope your afikomen bag will become part of your family’s Passover celebrations, year after year. My older daughter and I made the pink afikomen bag (above) over 20 years ago, and each year, when we pull it out along with our favorite Seder plate, it’s like visiting a special friend. Making beautiful objects to use in Jewish celebrations is the Jewish value Hiddur Mitzvah (beautifying a mitzvah).
If you have an extra piece of felt, you can use the same process above (no need to sew or fold) to make a matzah cover.
We hope making your own afikomen bag (and matzah cover) is one special way for your children to participate in getting ready for your Passover Seder. Let us know if you make one in the comments below!
Passover comes during the Hebrew month of Nisan and the season of spring, which is celebrated at Passover as a time of optimism and hope. We think this is a beautiful message to share right now with our family. For more ways to celebrate the season, visit our Passover Round-up to learn how to bake your own matzah, make a yummy mud pie to “grow” parsley for your seder, make a matzah necklace, make a tiny Baby Moses mini diorama and more!
Happy Passover!
~Jennifer
Our afikomen bag and matzah cover have a special place on our Passover table.
