Mar 31

Mar 31 DIY: Matzah necklace

Feeling the love with a little matzah necklace

Did you know that Passover is also called Chag HaMatzot - The Festival of Matzah? One favorite story that my mom would tell was about a special little matzah that seemed to have a smile on its face.

Here’s Grandma Melinda’s story to tell your children -

Passover was just a few days away, and the Matzo Factory was the busiest it had ever been! The Matzos were baked and packaged and sent on their way to become part of the Passover Seder. That is, except one little matzo. You see, he was especially tiny and his corners were not exactly square. So he sat quietly, watching all the other matzos being put into boxes for happy families.

Then, just before the factory closed for the day, a family entered with a little boy who wanted a special matzo for the Afikoman. The matzo baker showed him all his best matzo, but the boy kept looking. And then he saw it - the little matzo. The baker explained that this matzah was not perfect. It was tiny! It was extra bumpy, and it didn’t have square corners! But that didn’t matter to the boy. He knew that everyone and everything is perfect in its own special way. So the boy chose the little matzo for his afikomen, and when he did, it looked as if the little matzo felt the boy’s love and smiled. ♥

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own smiley “Littlest Matzah” Necklace!

Littlest Matzah Necklace

3 inch square of cardstock (we used paint chips, but you can also cut the square from a cereal box or another sturdy paper).
brown, black and pink markers
Hole punch
36” piece of yarn or string
Beads - cereal circles make fun edible beads for toddlers and plastic beads for bigger kids

These are the steps - They’re simple enough for even the smallest children.

1. Start with a 3 inch square

2. Draw brown lines

3. Draw eyes and a smile

4. Draw pink circles for cheeks

5. Punch a hole at the top

6. Add a 36 inch piece of yarn

7. Add some beads

8. All done ♥

matzah necklace craft — You can also use plastic beads instead of cereal circles.

Whether it’s making up stories, or just telling us with a hug, my mom always reminded us on Passover (and every day) that we are special - just the way we are. This is the Jewish value Ahavah (love). We hope you’ll make a little matzah necklace with someone you love.

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 right now to share 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 your own afikomen bag, Baby Moses mini diorama and more! And if you make a little matzah necklace, let us know in the comments below!

Happy Passover. Be well, be safe and be loved. ♥

~Jennifer