Pesach Seder: Spilling the Wine
Question
What is the custom of spilling wine at the seder?
Answer
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It is virtually a universal custom to spill ten drops of wine from one's goblet when mentioning the ten plagues at the Seder. As the Rema writes, "It is customary to spill some wine with one's finger at the words ’blood, fire, and columns of smoke’ …and when mentioning the Ten Plagues, and at the words ‘D’tzach, Adash, B’achav’…for a total of sixteen times." In some families, only the one leading the Seder does this, though the more widespread custom is for everyone to do so, as well. The reason wine is spilled at this time is to recall the revenge that God took upon the Egyptians on our behalf.
There are a number of customs on how to spill these sixteen drops of wine. Some have the custom to spill the wine by using their index finger in order to recall the "etzba elokim," the finger of God, which is said to correspond to the index finger. Most people, however, have the custom to use the pinky finger to spill these drops of wine. There are also those who use the ring finger to spill the wine, based on the teaching that God's smiting of the Egyptians is represented by this finger. Ultimately, however, it does not matter which finger is used. When removing wine from the cup, one should have in mind the hope and wish that God send all such plagues upon all the enemies of the Jewish people.
Many Sefardim, based on kabbalistic considerations, have the custom not to use their fingers at all to spill the wine, but rather, to spill the wine directly from their cup into some other receptacle. This was the custom of the Vilna Gaon and it is the custom of many Chassidim, as well. One of the reasons for this custom is in order not to return any of the wine that remains on one's finger back to the cup when one dips one's finger into the cup again at the mention of the next plague.
Source
Sources: Maharil, Seder Haggada;Darkei Moshe, OC 473:18; Rema, OC 473:7; Magen Avraham 473:28; Aruch Hashulchan, OC 473:24; Mishna Berura 473:74,75; Shaar Hatziun 473:81