Passover question: Best afikomen custom
Leader hides it, children search for it, the child who finds it wins a prize
Children steal it and hide it, then bargain for gifts in exchange for its return
Both combined: leader hides it, children search, child who finds it "ransoms" it
Other
While I only grew up celebrating Passover sporadically, the version of the afikoman ritual I always knew was "the chid who finds it wins a prize." Plain and simple. This is still the only version of the game I've ever seen in practice. When I've been to community Seders (quite a few now), this has always been the way they do it – although they usually hide multiple pieces of matzo, not just the one broken half, so as many kids as possible can find them and win prizes, not just one.
The alternative custom of a child "holding the afikoman for ransom" and bargaining for a present in exchange for returning the matzo piece is one I've only heard about. I've never seen it done.
So I'd like to ask the question: which custom is your favorite?
