The seder plate has six elements that are part of the story of the Passover. The six elements are: Beitzah - A roasted egg. It symbolizes the ancient sacrifice for festivals. It used to be meat that was eaten but is replaced with an egg, a tradition symbol of mourning for Jews, because it is often the first food served to mournings when they return from the cemetery. Bitter herbs - They represent the bitterness that the Jews went through. Karpas - They are dipped in salted water which represents the tears of the Jews. The reason that a simple vegetable is used is to elicit a question since normally bread in the first thing eaten after kiddush (the blessing over the wine.) But there is no bread on the Passover table. Kharoset (Charoset) - They represent the mortar used by the Jews to put the brick together. Zroa - Represents the ancient way of prayer, animal sacrifice for Passover. (Korban Pesach) Some people also add some newer items to the seder plate. An orange is sometimes added to represent Gays, Lesbians, Feminism and marginalized rights of minorities, including Jews in the diaspora. It comes from a conservative rabbi who supposedly said that women belong on the bimah like an orange belongs on the seder plate. The salt water container is placed on the table, not on the seder plate. The three matzahs are usually placed on the seder plate as well, since matza represents the bread that the Jews couldn't let rise because of the rush to leave Egypt.