Hundreds of families are taking part in a bread burning ritual in Rockland County to mark the start of Passover.

The burning of the bread is a Jewish religious ritual for Passover known as chometz, where Hasidic and Orthodox families toss bags of bread into fire.

Jewish people are forbidden to eat or own leavened food items on Passover, which is why they burn the bread.

This year the ceremony will be held at an old Monsey drive-in theater. Facilitators say that this event has been held in Monsey for the past 15 to 20 years.

Officials say the ceremony is held in a public place for safety reasons, and that the fire department is at the ceremony in case flames get out of control.

Passover begins at sundown begins tonight and lasts for eight days.