Kelly's Classroom Online: How to Make an Afikomen Bag for Passover

Passover. . . also known as Pesach. . . is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Hebrews’ escape from Egypt. Passover lasts for seven days. During this time families have a special meal called a seder and read from the Haggadah that tells the story of how Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt and into freedom. A fun Passover tradition for families is to have a scavenger hunt for afikomen. What is afikomen? What is its symbolism? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and how to make a simple afikomen craft.

Directions for children to make and sew their own afikomen bag for Passover - Pesach. Children's craft. Kids' craft. Crafts for Passover. #kellysclassroomonline

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What is Afikomen?

During the seder three matzahs are stacked on the table. Matzah is kind of, sort of like a cracker. It’s a type of flatbread that is made without yeast. The matzah in the middle of the stack gets broken into two pieces. The larger of these two pieces is called the afikomen. The parents... or grandparents... take this afikomen, wrap it in a napkin, and hide it. Some families will put the afikomen in an afikomen bag instead of wrapping it in a napkin. Then the children have to search around the house to find it. Sometimes the first child to find the afikomen gets a prize!

Searching for the afikomen is steeped in symbolism. For children, it's a fun game to look forward to when the seder is over. However, for many adults, it is symbolic of the ultimate redemption from suffering. It can also be symbolic of the Passover sacrifice that used to be offered at the ancient temple in Jerusalem or as a reminder that the poor must always set something aside for the next meal.

Choose two squares of fabric to sew together.

How to Make a Simple Afikomen Bag

Making an afikomen bag can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like it to be. Some afikomen bags are made from plain linen fabric, whereas others can be made from embroidered silk. I've even seen afikomen bags made with gold woven into their fabrics! How you and your students make your afikomen bags is completely up to you.

You will need:

pre-cut squares of fabric (Using these 10x10 squares of fabric will make this easy craft even easier!)
thread
sewing needles
optional: embellishments such as beads or ribbons

Directions:

1. Take two squares of fabric and stack them together with the right sides... the pretty sides... facing each other.

2. Sew three sides of the square together. Leave one side open.

3. Optional: Hem the open edge to prevent fraying.

4. Turn the squares right side out.

5. Optional: Decorate your new afikomen bag.

Sew three edges of the square. Leave the fourth edge open.

There is no one specific way to decorate your afikomen bag and it’s OK if your students' afikomen bags aren't 'perfect.' What’s important is that your students enjoy the process of making these bags and that they have an enjoyable seder meal with their families.