What is Purim?

Everyday Jewish Mom

10 months ago

Purim is one of the most joyous Jewish holidays, filled with laughter, costumes, and delicious treats. Whether you’re hearing the Megillah, dressing up, or exchanging mishloach manot, the spirit of Purim is all about celebration and togetherness.

What is Purim?

Purim is the Jewish holiday when we retell the story from the Book of Esther, one of the holy books in the Jewish Bible, the Tanakh. The story unfolds like this:

A long time ago in ancient Persia, in a city called Shushan, there was a king named Ahasuerus. He had banished his wife and needed to find a new one, so he held a beauty pageant. A Jewish woman named Esther entered the pageant and won. Her uncle Mordechai advised her not to reveal that she was Jewish.

Meanwhile, the king had a trusted but power-hungry advisor named Haman, who demanded that everyone bow to him as he walked through the streets of Shushan. Mordechai refused to bow, believing it was against his Jewish beliefs. Enraged, Haman convinced the king that a group of people among them was a threat and needed to be eliminated. The king granted him the power to set a date when all of the Jews in Shushan were to be executed, and Haman even began building gallows.

Mordechai turned to his niece Queen Esther, urging her to intervene telling her she was their only hope and needed to do something. However, Esther knew that approaching the king without being summoned could mean death. Summoning her bravery, she prayed to G-d and fasted, along with the Jewish community. She then went to the king and much to her relief, he welcomed her. She revealed that someone was plotting to kill her and her people, and when the king asked who was responsible, she pointed to Haman. In a twist of fate, Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had built for the Jews and the Jewish people were saved!

How Do We Celebrate Purim?

Purim is a holiday filled with joy, noise, and celebration! Here’s how we mark the occasion:

Reading the Megillah: We read the Book of Esther from a special scroll called the Megillah. During the reading, we are supposed to make so much noise that we drown out the name of Haman. When his name is read everyone in the congregation boos and hisses and uses groggers (noise-makers) to drown it out.
Purim Spiel: This is a satirical play that retells the Purim story using modern characters, pop culture references, and inside jokes from the community. It’s joyous, fun, and full of laughter!
Dressing Up: In addition to the Purim Spiel participants wearing costumes, everyone dresses up for Purim! Traditionally, people would dress as characters from the Purim story, but today, anything goes—so it often looks like Halloween.
Mishloach Manot (Shalach Manot): Purim is our gift-giving holiday. We exchange small food packages, usually containing at least two different types of treats, to spread joy among friends and family.

What Do We Eat on Purim?

Food plays a big role in Purim celebrations, and the most famous treat is hamantaschen. These triangle-shaped cookies are traditionally filled with fruit fillings like prune or poppy seed, though today, you’ll find them in flavors like chocolate, marshmallow, and even Nutella! The triangle shape is said to resemble Haman’s hat.

Another unique Purim tradition? Drinking! Jewish law states that one should drink until they can’t tell the difference between Mordechai (the hero) and Haman (the villain). While moderation is always encouraged, Purim is a holiday of uninhibited joy and celebration.