What Goes on a Seder Table?

While you’re setting your Passover Seder table (and doing a million other things at the same time), don’t forget to include these essentials! Depending on your tradition and culture, your list may look a bit different. 

This ceremonial Passover meal, sometimes held on the first, second, and last nights of Passover, depending on your tradition, transforms an ordinary dining table into a sacred space of storytelling, symbolism, and connection. The Seder table invites us to experience the universal story of liberation and rejoice in our freedom from slavery in Egypt. Many also use the Seder as an opportunity to reflect on those who are still not free and commit to using our power to advocate for liberty for all. 

The Essential Elements of a Seder Table

At the heart of every Seder table sits the Seder plate, holding symbolic foods that tell the Passover story:

• Maror (bitter herbs): Typically horseradish, representing the bitterness of slavery
• Chatzeret: Some seder plates also include a second bitter herb, often romaine lettuce or endives
• Charoset: A sweet mixture symbolizing the mortar used by enslaved Israelites
• Karpas: A green vegetable, often parsley, dipped in salt water to represent tears and springtime
• Z'roa: A roasted shankbone symbolizing the Passover sacrifice
• Beitzah: A hard-boiled egg representing mourning and the cycle of life

For other additions to your Seder plate, read our blog post about what to put on your seder plate. 

It’s hard to forget the Seder plate. But it’s the rest of the symbolic items that often get overlooked! So here’s your reminder to also include the following while setting your Seder table:  

• Two candles to light at the beginning of your Seder as you say the blessing.
• Three pieces of matzah (unleavened bread) covered in a special cloth. Some special matzah holders have three separate compartments to keep each of the three pieces separate. 
• Salt water for dipping. You’ll need this to dip your parsley to commemorate the tears that were shed by our ancestors when they were slaves in Egypt. 
• Wine or grape juice—enough for four cups for each of your guests. 
• A Haggadah for each person and any other supplemental readings you want to include. If you don’t have one yet, be sure to browse our collection to download one for free! 
• A pillow at each chair so each guest can recline, rejoice in their freedom, and feel like royalty.
• A cup of wine for Elijah. This will start off empty, and you’ll fill it during your Seder. 
• A cup of water for Myriam, who led the Jews to water while they were wandering in the desert. 

In Persian tradition, a green onion is also placed at each table setting. It’s customary to whip your neighbors with scallions while singing dayenu, a ritual that some believe represents life as slaves.

Families with children sometimes have toys or masks at the table to represent the plagues and help bring the story to life for young kids. We also recommend printing out our Coloring Book Haggadah and having that available with some crayons to keep young (and young-at-heart!) guests entertained.

We’d love to hear what else you put on your Seder table—reach out to us at info@recustom.com to let us know!