AFIKOMEN Meaning and
Definition
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Afikomen, derived from the Hebrew word "afikomen" (אֲפִיקוֹמָן), is a term primarily associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover. In Jewish tradition, during the Passover Seder, the afikomen refers to a piece of matzo, a type of unleavened bread, broken and hidden during the ceremonial meal.
The afikomen holds both spiritual and symbolic significance. It is customarily broken and partaken before the final course of the Seder, symbolizing the afikomen as the dessert of the meal. The word "afikomen" itself is believed to originate from the Greek word "epikomion," meaning "dessert" or "that which follows," further supporting its role as a concluding element within the feast.
This practice holds historical and cultural significance, recalling the time when the Israelites, escaping slavery in Egypt, hurriedly took unleavened bread that did not have time to rise. The afikomen represents the haste of this exodus and serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination of the Jewish people.
Additionally, the afikomen carries an interactive aspect as part of the Seder tradition, engaging children in its finding and subsequent ransom. The leader or designated adult will hide the afikomen, and the children are encouraged to seek and find it. Once discovered, the afikomen is held "hostage" until a reward or "ransom" is given, adding a playful and joyful element to the Passover celebration.
In summary, the afikomen refers to the broken and hidden piece of unleavened bread in the Passover Seder, symbolizing dessert, the haste of the exodus, and engaging children in
Common Misspellings for AFIKOMEN
- zfikomen
- sfikomen
- wfikomen
- qfikomen
- adikomen
- acikomen
- avikomen
- agikomen
- atikomen
- arikomen
- afukomen
- afjkomen
- afkkomen
- afokomen
- af9komen
- af8komen
- afijomen
- afimomen
- afilomen
- afioomen
Etymology of AFIKOMEN
The word "afikomen" is derived from the Greek word "epikomion", meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert". The Greek term itself is a combination of "epi", meaning "after", and "komion", meaning "dinner" or "banquet". In Jewish Passover traditions, the afikomen is a piece of matzo that is hidden during the Seder and sought by children, who are then rewarded for finding it. The word "afikomen" entered the Hebrew language and Jewish traditions likely during the Hellenistic period, when Greek culture and language had significant influence over Jewish communities.
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