Passover's contradictions

The leafy greens of spring and renewal are dipped in the salty tears of our slave ancestors. The matzah is the bread of affliction and also the symbol of freedom.  The bitterness of slavery (maror) is sweetened by the hope of freedom (charoset). And the house is cleaned like crazy, especially of any crumbs, in preparation for the most crumb-generating holiday on the calendar.