All About The Afikomen

The favorite part of Passover for many children -- the hiding of the afikomen -- is a relatively recent custom that's only a couple of centuries old, according to Rabbi Shraga Simmons of Aish.com.

Three matzohs are used at the Passover seder. During the seder, the middle matzoh is broken in half. The larger half is designated as the afikomen, or the dessert matzoh.

The afikomen is then hidden as a means of keeping the children interested in the event. Generally, parents hide the afikomen and the children look for it at the end of the meal. If the children find it, they receive a reward.

In another custom, a child "steals" the afikomen and the parent has to find it. If the parent can't find it, the child is given a reward for its return.

After the afikomen is found and returned, it's divided among the participants and eaten.

Some say the afikomen was considered a good luck charm during the Middle Ages, and some sailors took chunks of it on voyages to ward off storms. Others hung it around their homes to chase away demons.

Discussion: Know Any Good Afikomen Hiding Spots?