Pesakh • Khag ha-Matzot  פֶּסַח • חַג הַמַּצוֹת

The first feast of the year is Passover, the Feast of Mercy חַג הַפֶּסַח Khag ha-Pesakh, which is also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread חַג הַמַּצוֹת Khag ha-Matzot. This feast is celebrated on the 14th day of the first month, which is also know as Aviv (the month is called Nissan in the Babylonian calendar). This month always falls in the beginning of Spring. The feast begins on the 14th day of the first month after sunset, and lasts for seven days, ie. till the evening of 21st day of the first month, as it is written:

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at dusk, is YHWH’s passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto YHWH; seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread. (3M 23:5-6)

Passover is the reminder of the deliverance of our forefathers from Egyptian slavery. The feast is celebrated in following way: before the beginning of the feast all fermented and leavened foods which we call Khametz חָמֵץ must be removed from the whole house. Before the beginning of the feast it is necessary to prepare and bake unleavened breads Matzot מַצוֹת. Salt is not added to unleavened breads, we must eat unleavened bread instead of ordinary bread during the whole time of the feast. Unleavened bread serves as a reminder of the expulsion of the People of Israel from Egypt. The Israelites left Egypt in a hurry, so they didn't have time to prepare leavened breads and they were therefore forced to bake unleavened bread. as it is written:

And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. (2M 12:39)

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; howbeit the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (2M 12:15)

And Moses said unto the people: Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of his hand YHWH brought you out from this place; therefore no leavened bread shall be eaten. (2M 13:3)

And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all they borders seven days; neither shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrificest the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. (5M 16:4)

During the first day of Pesakh it is an obligation for each Karaite to read the Haggadah to the family, the Haggadah is the story about the miraculous deliverance of our ancestors out of Egypt. It is also an obligation to talk about the importance of telling the story - Haggadah = narration הַגָּדָה. It is customary to eat bitter herbs Merorim מְרוֹרִים with unleavened bread on this evening as a reminder of the bitter life of our ancestors had in Egypt, as it is written:

And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which YHWH did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. (2M 13:8)

And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (2M 12: 8)

The first and the last day of the Passover is the Holy Assembly מִקְרָא קדֶשׁ Mikra Kodesh. On those days special public worship takes place; all work, except for the preparation of food for this feast, is prohibited. The days between the first and last day of Passover have the status of semi-feast חל הַמּעֵד khol hamoed, these days are different from common days in special prayers, and also in the fact that at this time it is possible to do the most necessary work, as it is written:

And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. (2M 12:16)
 
The last - seventh day of Passover is the festive day of the Assembly Shevii atzeret שְּׁבִיעִי עֲצֶרֶת.

Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to YHWH thy God; thou shalt do no work therein. (5M 16:8)