Afikoman Uncovered

In order to clear up some misconceptions about one of the seder's most prominent stages, students demystified the afikoman. Some of the highlights, in question/answer format:

Why do we hide the afikoman?
While there's no basis for this practice in halacha, many people hide the afikoman as a way to provoke curiosity among child participants at the seder. (The stage in which we eat the afikoman, called "tzafun," means "hidden.")

Where does the word afikoman come from?
The Talmud reports that the word bears Greek origins and means "dessert." Other sources perceive it as a contraction of two words: afiku (remove) and man (food). Both interpretations highlight the fact that the afikoman is the last thing eaten at the seder. Read on...

Why do we eat matzah in the afikoman stage?
The afikoman takes the place of the korban pesach which we no longer eat due to the absence of the Beit HaMikdash. Just as the korban pesach must be eaten at the end of the meal, so is the afikoman. (There are other conceptual connections as well, including the fact that the afikoman must be eaten on a full stomach and consumed by chatzot [halachic midnight]).