Yet another mom of three, Stacey Rokhsar, married into a tradition entirely different from her own.

Her husband Michael's family descends from Iran and follows Sephardic traditions. Jews who descend from Spain, Portugal, the Mediterranean and Turkey, among other regions,  are also Sephardic.

She said in their 10 and a half years of marriage, she's always enjoyed engaging in her husband's customs. "I thought it was interesting," she said. "And the foods were always stand-out differences."

The foods are true to their warmer regions and include lots of lighter fare such as salads, nuts, lentils and dried fruit. Rice dishes are popular, as well as lamb or beef.

And while Ashkenazi Jews do not eat rice on Passover, Sephardim do.

"The rice is such a process for them," said Rokhsar. "The legumes and beans and rice are such a staple in Iran."

"They take beyond pride in their food," she said. "There is not a stitch that is not home made." She added that the Sephardic Charoset is an obvious difference. "Ours is more apple-y …theirs is much more brown …dates and wine and nuts."

And their Seders are rich in Persian tradition.

During the song Dayenu, strands of green onions sit on the table to represent slavery. The onions are used to "hit" each other as a reminder. "Everybody turns and slaps each other," she said. "You say "Dayenu" …boom…you're hitting somebody on the arm with a slab of green onion."

"All of a sudden they're flying across the table."

"For the most part the service is the same," said Rokhsar, adding there is a version of the Haggadah that does incorporate more of the Persian tradition.

Many members of her husband's family also speak Farsi to each other, and to her children, ages seven, five and a half and two.

As for her kids' take on their family Seders, Rokhsar said they don't know any differently. "I don't think they realize what is Persian-y versus what's regular tradition," she said. "It's just what they know."

And if you don't celebrate this holiday, but you would like to wish someone well … you can start your own small "tradition."

http://westfield.patch.com/articles/passover-traditions-are-unique-to-each-home