While buying fish this morning, a friend challenged me to come up with all 15 steps of an Orthodox Seder; it has been years since I attended an Orthodox Seder which can go one for hours, but was able to do it. Here goes:

1. Kadesh. Say the kiddush (prayer for "fruit of the vine") and have the first glass of wine.
2. Urchatz. Ablution--wash your hands.
3. Karpas. Dip the green vegetable (parsley, often) in salt water and eat.
4. Yachatz. Break the middle matzah from the matzah plate and use the larger piece as afikomen (dessert) at meal's end. Return the smaller piece to the plate.
5. Tell the story of the Exodus. In other words, recite the Haggadah. Drink the second glass of wine.
6. Rachtzah. Another ablution--wash your hands.
7. Motzi. The blessing before eating matzah.
8. Matzah. Break off a pice of matzah and eat.
9. Maror. It means bitter herbs. Whatever bitter herb is offered (usually horseradish) is dipped in charoset (an apple/walnut/cinnamon/wine mixture) and eaten.
10. Korech. Called Hillel's sandwich. Put some bitter herb & charoset on a small piece of matzah & eat.
11. The festive meal.
12. Tzafun. Eating the afikomen .
13. Blessing after the meal. Drink the third glass of wine & perform Elijah's cup. Pour a glass of wine for the prophet Elijah and open a door to let him in.
14. Songs, with the fourth glass of wine.
15. Nirtzah. The conclusionary prayer and "Next year in Jerusalem."

I was so proud of myself for remembering all the steps I almost forgot to finish my Passover shopping!

~Adam

A friend of mine does a large seder dinner every other year for our group. It is not exactly traditional. There is always some theme around which everything is oriented. However, all steps of the seder are completed, even if a little tongue in cheek. Everyone enjoys it a great deal, and we actually have learned some things about another culture/faith/belief system.

I once helped organize a seder (which was to be my first) - but, at the last minute, I had a personal emergency and could not attend.