Leavened grain products that are forbidden to eat during the Jewish holiday of Passover.
From Hebrew 'chametz' meaning 'leavened.' The word comes from the root meaning 'to ferment' or 'to sour.' During Passover, Jews commemorate the exodus from Egypt when they had no time to let bread rise, so chametz is symbolically avoided.
The prohibition on chametz during Passover creates a fascinating linguistic challenge—Hebrew speakers must describe bread, pasta, and beer using elaborate workarounds during the holiday, which actually reinforces the holiday's spiritual meaning through language itself!
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