Pesaha Appam

Pesaha Appam is the unleavened Passover bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians (also known as Syrian Christians or Nasrani) of Kerala, India to be served on Passover night. It is served on passover night of Maundy Thursday. Pesaha appam is made from rice batter like Palappam, but it is not fermented with yeast in its preparation.

Traditionally, Pesaha Appam is served in a ceremonial manner on Passover night in Syrian Christian households. The head of the family cuts the appam, dips it in paalukurukku (syrup) or Pesaha Pal (Passover milk), and serves it to the other family members.

The Pesaha Appam is derived from the ancient bread of Jewish tradition. It has survived and continued as a tradition by the Knanayas that migrated to Kerala from the levant in the early days of Jewish Christianity. During Passover the Saint Thomas Nasrani Christian prepare bread without yeast in accordance with the Jewish commemoration of Pesaha or Passover. This unleavened bread is prepared only for Passover and is called as Pesaha Appam or Passover unleavened bread. This was also followed by the Malabar Yehuden or Malabar Jews of Kerala.

Pesaha pal (passover coconut milk ) is served along with Pesaha Appam on the night of Passover. Some families have the custom of singing traditional Kerala Nasrani Christian songs on passover night. This tradition of Pesaha appam was observed by the entire Nasrani people until Portuguese persecution as well as the Cochin Jews.

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