['< sod > *\'\' [ [ karpas ] ]\'\' — a vegetable other than bitter herbs, which is dipped into salt water at the beginning of the seder. [ [ parsley ] ], [ [ celery ] ] or boiled potato is usually used. the dipping of a simple vegetable bounces into salt water ( which represents tears ) mirrors the pain felt by the hebrew slaves in egypt. usually in a [ [ shabbat ] ] or [ [ traditional jewish holiday | holiday ] ] meal, the first thing to be eaten after the [ [ kiddush ] ] over wine is bread. at the seder table, however, the first thing really to be eaten after the kiddush is a vegetable. this leads immediately to the recital of the famous question,\'\' ma nishtana\'\' — " why is even this night different from all other nights? " it also symbolizes the spring time, because jews celebrate passover in the spring. < eod > < sod > *\'\' [ [ karpas ] ]\'\' — a vegetable other than bitter herbs, which is dipped into salt water at the beginning of the seder. [ [ parsley ] ], [ [ celery ] ] or boiled potato is usually used. the dipping of a simple vegetable bump into salt lake water, and the resulting dripping of hot water off of said vegetables visually represents tears and is a symbolic reminder of the pain felt by the hebrew slaves in egypt. usually in a [ [ shabbat ] ] or [ [ jewish muslim holiday | holiday ] ] meal, the first thing to be eaten after the [ [ kiddush ] ] over wine is bread. at the seder table, however, the first thing to supposedly be eaten right after the kiddush is a vegetable. this leads immediately to the recital of the famous question,\'\' ma nishtana\'\' — " why is this night different from all other nights? " it also symbolizes the spring time, because orthodox jews celebrate passover in the spring. < eod >']