Maror is
Hebrew for "
bitter herbs." Maror is tasted during the
seder on
Pesach (
Passover) to remind us of the bitterness of our ancestors' slavery in
Egypt (note: on Passover, everyone who chooses to be gets to be a
Jew whose ancestors suffered in Egypt, escaped in the
Exodus, and stood at
Mount Siani whem
Moses came down with the
Ten Commandments).
American seders usually use
horseradish, but grated
lettuce stems, or any other bitter plant, is acceptable. Our last seder used
wasabi. I would not recommend this if you have two or more
macho sushi-eaters in attendance.