HAGGADHÄH («narration»). — The Jewish ceremonial for the celebration of the evening of Passover.
The texts are ancient and are found, with variations, in the liturgical compositions of the Geonic period (see GÈ'ÔNIM); their origins go back to an earlier period. The ceremonial begins with four questions posed by a child about the reasons for unusual things and withdrawals. This is followed by the historical evocation of the Exodus from Egypt, the remembrance of the wonders performed by Moses at God’s command, psalms of praise (131–138) or Hallel (see); the meal with the consumption of unleavened bread and bitter herbs, the blessing over the food, and the second part of the psalms of praise (cf. Mt 26:30; Mk 14:26). The various narrative texts are already contained in Talmudic literature. Psalms 134–136 (the “Great Hallel”) and the magnificent hymn “The soul of every living being,” an hymn that in the Middle Ages was considered to have been composed by the Apostle Peter, are recited afterward. Later, various poetic compositions were added to the end of the Haggadah. Illustrated editions of the Haggadah are often of the highest artistic value for their woodcuts.
In a general sense, Haggadah designates the sayings and homiletic writings intended to edify through examples and narratives, in contrast to Halakhah (see); whereas Halakhah forms the essence of the Mishnah, Haggadah is fundamental in the Midrash (see).