It seems us Hebrews have a hard time getting ideas for how to decorate our homes for the feasts, so I thought I’d share this easy decoration idea that my kids and I made last year. But it’s not just easy and decorative, it’s deeply meaningful, as well.
As you can see in the pictures, it’s very simple: basically just a long piece of red cloth draped over the door frame. But while it’s simple, the impact can be very profound. My kids and I hang it together about a month before Passover, and take it down after the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The Gospel should be at the forefront of our minds and hearts, but sometimes a little physical reminder, especially at the time leading up to Passover, is useful. We are to approach Passover with circumcised hearts, prepared and clean to have this important date with the Creator. And while we physically remove leaven from our homes, it’s important we remember that no matter how much sin we remove, there will still be sin in us, which is why the grace of the cross is so glorious! Because of Yeshua’s shed blood we can be in covenant with the Father. That is the Gospel. We are to live and breathe the Gospel and it should impact every area of our lives daily. As the Feast draws near, a physical “decoration” can be a powerful tool to remind not only our children, but ourselves, of this most important truth.
I use the word “decoration” loosely. I decorate my home with lots of little goodies at feast time. But this cloth that represents the blood of the perfect, sinless Lamb, is much more than a decoration. The meaning and symbolism are rich for my family.
Rich meaning of the red fabric.
As you hang the red cloth that represents the blood, remind your family that each time they walk through it, or see it, they can be visually reminded that just as the Israelites were redeemed when the blood of the lamb allowed death to pass over their home, that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Yeshua, who allowed eternal death to pass over us.
Another benefit of hanging the red cloth is that anyone who visits my home during feast time asks me about it. It’s hard to miss, and I get questions about it. It created great opportunities for sharing the Gospel, or sharing about why I celebrate Passover. Basically, it’s a nice conversation starter.
Now, this is just a tradition my family does, and it is not commanded in Scripture. Well, except that first Passover. I’m just throwing this out as an idea if anyone is looking for meaningful ways to decorate their home.
I hang mine over the door that leads from the garage into my home. (For a prettier picture, though, I hung it in my home.) We mainly use the garage door to come and go, as do my guests, so it made the most sense for us. You could do this on an outside door, such as your front door, but you’ll need to use fabric that can get wet if it’s outside.
This craft doesn’t have to cost a lot, either. I actually got my red fabric at a garage sale at a great price. Check the bargain bins at your local fabric store, or even ask around. The type of fabric doesn’t matter, (cotton, etc.), just get what you like. Mine is a satin, so it’s shiny and hangs nicely.
Please keep in mind that I’m not a crafty person. I’m quite sure you talented ladies will have ideas of how to do it better. Please leave a comment with your ideas to share with us! Seriously, I craft like I’m in third grade. Help me! 🙂
Putting it all together.
Here’s how I made the “Blood over the Doorpost” decoration:
Buy 3-6 yards of red fabric. You may use more or less fabric, depending on how big your doorway is, and how close to the ground you want it drape. Measure your doorway to be exact, and add a few extra inches to allow for some hanging “swag” at the top if you want. If the fabric you’re buying is very wide, you can cut it down the middle and sew it lengthwise. It’s about six yards around my whole door trim, going all the way to the floor. But as you can see, mine doesn’t go all the way to the floor. The fabric in my pictures is 3 yards long and 1 yard wide. You could also use wide ribbon.
Put up two hooks to hold the fabric.
You can use plain old nails and hammer, or picture hangers, or even those Command Strips that can be removed. Put one at each end of the top of your door frame, at least 2-4 inches away from the door trim, and 2-4 inches above the door trim. You don’t want your fabric to hang so closely that it makes it difficult to open and close the door. Hold the fabric up with your hands to see if it’s going to work before you add your hooks to the wall.
Get the fabric ready to hang. I used rubber bands to make my fabric fit on my nails and hang nicely. I put each rubber band around the fabric at the place where I thought it should hang, and it bunched up the fabric for me as well as made a way to attach it to the hook. The correct placement took some trial and error, but it didn’t take long to have it hanging how we wanted, with equal amounts draping down either side of the door.
Hang it how you want! Easy, peasy. Careful standing on the chair!
Optional: I already have some ideas to dress this up even more. I can make some sort of fabric cover, bow or something to tie over the rubber bands so they don’t show. A white string of lights can be hung with the fabric. If you don’t want to buy fabric or ribbon, just color some cardboard or paper red with crayons or markers and tape it up. A sign of sorts could be added across the top with a Bible verse or a feast greeting. Be creative and do this however you want!
Enjoy and have a blessed Passover meal to celebrate the Savior, friends!
What a brilliant idea! Thank you so much for sharing it! I’m going to do this for Passover this year. Thank you so much!
When do you take it down? Eight days later?
I take it down after the feast. But there’s no rules. It’s just a made up tradition. Do what you want.
I take it down after the feast. But there’s no rules. It’s just a made up tradition. Do what you want. 🙂
Hi, all Chinese hang the red cloth the same way during their lunar new year. Please Google and you will see a lot of examples.
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing
I did this over my front doors this year. Came up with the idea on my own but glad to see there are other like minds out there. Hope the symbolism of this continues to spread. I like using the word symbol instead of decoration. As we all know symbols can be very powerful. And this year the word Paaover takes on new signifance. May the angel of death & Covid 19 passover over us all..
This definitely helped me with what and how to decorate and I will use it this year! Thanks a bunch!
Shalom my dear sister…..Thank you very much for sharing….I’m definitely going to use this amazing idea….BLESSINGS in YAHUAH
Thank you you so.much for such a wonderful idea. I’m between homes now, and this makes it so easy. Especially with my mazuzuah right there..
Happy Pacach
Shalom
Such a lovely reminder of the faithfulness of Adonai! Thank you for sharing.
Constance
Great idea…I want to do this!
I agree, this is brilliant, but simple and would really make a big impact visually and straight to the meaning of Passover! I love it and Im already sharing it with my bestie!
Shalom
Can you please add me to your email list please.
Noleen
Fantastic idea. Please add me on your email newsletter thank you
Thanks and I’ve added you. 🙂
Totally BLESSED by this idea we will surely part take here in South Africa
Can you please tell me the dates for 2023 to hang the red ribbon above my door? I have been doing this for the past few years and want to continue.
I put red tape over my door frame. Not as pretty but the meaning and sentiment is the same. Blessings.
Beautiful idea ty
Awesome idea! I love this!
This looks beautiful! We do something similar. We took a roll of red satin ribbon, cut a length and stapled it above the door frame coming into the house (we have a single door, not a wide or double one). It could be done with some type of hook as well if people don’t want to staple. We have our children (now teens) help with this each year and we take a picture of them standing in the doorway with the “blood” covering them.
Wow thanks for this creative idea ! I need tips on how to celebrate Pessa’h, as I cannot take the leaven out of my home bc my family doesn’t believe. Simple but meaningful things as this craft are perfect to observe that important feast. Be blessed !
Shalom
Absolutely inspired! Thank you
A few years ago, my husband decided to repurpose our vintage C-9 X-mas lights by creating an all red strand. He puts them over the front door. He’s still trying to configure a fiery, whirling vortex for the pillar of cloud/fire =D
This is such a wonderful and meaningful way to commemorate this time of year
Love this. This will be a new way to honor God during Passover ….. Thank you!!! ♥️
PatfromGeorgia: Since we have been in social-distancing these weeks and isolated in our homes, except for emergencies, which we had a last week and as we were riding down the road, there were large, some small, bows of red on each of the mailboxes in this certain neighborhood. Our daughter called to see what it was about. It seems the blood covering for passover has passed over to our mailbox. What a wonderful way to remember the blood covering that our Lord Jesus (Yeshua) has done for us. I love the idea that you put over the doorway also. You are a blessed Hebrew, and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem that Yeshua is on His way. This Covid-19 is one way to affect us all. This is getting our attention, isn’t it. Bless you my sister.
I have been trying to seek ways to keep the commandments, statutes, and ordinances as the Lord has said. Thank you for this insight. Please add me to your mailings. Shalom
How long do ti keep the red fabric up? In other words when do we take it down?
Really nice!!!!
Just curious, when do l take my red cloth down?
I chanced upon this as I was doing research to show a link between the Passover story and the Chinese custom of hanging a length of red cloth over our doorways (I am Chinese). The Chinese hang the red cloth over the doorways exactly the same way as you did to ward off evil . I believe that after the Tower of Babel the different groups of people including the Chinese brought with them stories of old (including the Passover) and some customs survived.
Do google Chinese custom of red cloth over doorframes to see what I mean
Thank you for Sharing
Thank you so much for this idea. During these difficult times as we seek the Lord we are drawn to imitate are Christian ancestors. I started thinking this is what I wanted to do and then I thought I would look on the Internet to see if anybody had any good ideas. Thank you so much you’re amazing God bless Mardel
Yay! So glad you’re doing Passover and found my blog. Blessings!
Hi sister. I’m not Jewish but I’m learning about God’s good gospel. Can i do this too or is this strictly for your religious beliefs Only? Can i leave the cloth hanging all year round? I apologize for the questions. I’m trying to make the good changes in my life thru God’s teachings. Thank you.
This little tradition is not mentioned in the Bible at all, so there are no commands or prohibitions to doing it.If you want to do it, do it! 🙂
Amy, so many have asked when do YOU TAKE THE RED CLOTH DOWN? On Easter and then put up a white cloth or do you take the red down on the 8th day after passover?
Hallo, is there anyone who can help me with the dates and when to do this and how to do all the feasts. All of this is new to me as I am starting to follow Yeshua on this new road.
Thank you