When the Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise (leaven).   In commemoration, for the duration of Passover no leavened bread is eaten.  This is why we eat Matzah on Passover.   All food items that are leavened are called Chametz. In a Traditional Jewish Household, in preparation for the holiday, all Chametz is removed from the house.  In some very orthodox households, members of the family will go around by candlelight with a feather, seeking out all crumbs in all corners of the home and brushing them out of the home with the feather.  


haggadah Section: Introduction