Why do Jews sing songs like Chad Gadya on Passover even though they ostensibly have no relation to the celebration?

Answer 1

The goat in Chad Gadya hints to the blessing which Jacob received from Isaac. The words "one goat" are said twice to allude to the two goats which were prepared for Isaac's meal (see Genesis ch.27), which according to tradition was on the eve of the fifteenth of Nisan, when we celebrate the Seder.

Answer 2

All of the traditional songs on the Seder night* are directly related to the Exodus, or are general praises of God (such as Adir Hu and Adir Bimlukhah). The only exception is the ancient Chad Gadya, which seems like a simple children's ditty, in Aramaic: "Father bought the goat, the cat ate it, the dog bit the cat, the staff struck the dog, the fire burnt the staff, the water quenched the fire, the ox drank the water, the butcher slaughtered the ox, the angel of death killed the shochet, God destroyed the angel of death."A number of commentaries have been written concerning this, with that of the Vilna Gaon (Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 1720-1797) perhaps the most compelling. In brief:

The goat hints to the blessing which Jacob received from Isaac. The words "one goat" are said twice to allude to the two goats which were prepared for Isaac's meal (see Genesis ch.27), which according to tradition was on the eve of the fifteenth of Nisan.

The cat hints to the jealousy of Joseph's brothers (Gen.ch.37), through which the Israelites eventually found themselves in Egypt.

The dog hints to Pharaoh, since the Egyptian idol baal-zephon (Exodus ch.13) was in the image of a dog, meant to guard Egypt's exposed northern border (see also Ex.11:7).

The staff hints to the staff of Moses, which he lifted as he proclaimed the Plagues (Exodus ch.8-10).

The fire hints to the evil inclination (based on Talmud, Yoma 69b), through which the Temple was destroyed.

The water hints to Torah (Talmud, Bava Kama 17a, commenting on Isaiah 55:1), in the merit of which the Temple was rebuilt, under the aegis of the Sanhedrin of the Great Assembly.

The ox hints to Amalek and Edom (Rashi commentary, Psalms 68:31), whose descendants destroyed the Second Temple.

*See also the Related Link.

The Passover seder