Purim
Purim
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Purim is one of the most entertaining Jewish holidays.
Purim commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther.
Carnival time
It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests.
Gragger (rattle) and traditional Purim cookies called hamantashen ©
Americans sometimes refer to Purim as the Jewish Mardi Gras.
Purim is not subject to the restrictions on work that affect some other holidays; however, some sources indicate that Jews should not go about their ordinary business at Purim out of respect for the festival.
Reading the book
The main commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the Book of Esther.
The Book of Esther is known as the Megillah, which means scroll.
Although there are five books of Jewish scripture that can be called megillahs - Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations - The Book of Esther is the one people usually mean when they speak of the Megillah.
It is read both on the eve of Purim and also on Purim itself. If Purim falls on the Sabbath, the Megillah is read on the Thursday evening and Friday morning before Purim.
Synagogue celebrations
At Purim Jews read the story of Esther in the synagogue. It's usually an entertaining and rowdy occasion...
The synagogue is crowded with men, women, and children. Some wear their best Sabbath clothes, but many dress up in colourful costumes and masks.
Making a noise
Boy with a gragger ©
The Purim story has a dreadfully villainous villain called Haman, and everyone in the synagogue boos, hisses, stamps their feet and uses noisemakers (called graggers) and cymbals whenever the name of Haman is mentioned during the service.
The purpose of this custom is to blot out the name of Haman. Originally, when Haman's name was read, the congregation would shout "Cursed be Haman" or "May the name of the wicked rot!" But nowadays any noise will do.
Dressing up
Children in particular enjoy dressing up as the characters found in the Book of Esther, including King Xerxes, Vashti, Queen Esther, Mordecai and Haman.