By Eden
Purim, or carnival of the Jews, is celebrated every year in the month of March. Although this is rather casual. The actual date is given by the Jewish calendar and is the 14th of the month of Adar. As the Hebrew calendar fluctuates, that date usually coincides with March.
Purim is the commemoration of the moment when King Haman failed in his attempt to exterminate the Jews back in the fourth century BC.
Purim story. The book of Esther and the carnival of the Jews
To understand why this Jewish holiday is the happiest on the Hebrew calendar, why unlimited food is allowed and even getting drunk, you have to do a bit of history.
The grievance
The ancient Persian Empire encompassed 127 countries and the Jewish people were among its subjects. One of the Persian kings was Haman, who had friends, but also enemies, and one of them, King Ahasuerus, executed his wife. To replace her, a beauty contest was organized, which was won by a young Jewish woman: Ester. But Esther kept her origin a secret. Meanwhile, Haman, a known anti-Semite, was appointed Prime Minister of the Persian Empire.
All the rulers of the countries ruled by the empire were required to pay homage to Haman, but the leader of the Jewish people and Esther’s cousin, Mordechai, refused to do so. Then Haman, seized by a tremendous outburst of anger, convinces the Persian king to order the extermination of all the Jews in the kingdom in a single day, be they men, women, children or the elderly.
That day would be the 13th day of the month of Adar.
Divine favor
Mordechai knew the Jews were in trouble, but he trusted his god, so he had all his people gather together, repent of their sins, and raise their prayers to heaven. Meanwhile, Esther had a little more practical plans: seeing what was going to happen, she took her husband to a private place and revealed who she was and that she belonged to the Jewish ethnic group.
The result? Haman is hanged and Mordechai is appointed Prime Minister of the Persian Empire. His first act as ruler is to change the law that prevented the Jews from defending themselves against their enemies. Thus, on the 13th of Adar there is a great battle that the Jews win. And on the 14th they rest and the victory is celebrated.
How do the most orthodox Jews celebrate Purim?
They listen to the Megillah
The Megillah is a reading from the book of Esther that is done twice: on the eve of the Jewish carnival; that is, on the 13th day of Adar and for the second time during the celebration of the festival on the 14th.
The correct rite is only complete if every word of the Megillah is heard. During the reading, every time the name of the anti-Semitic king is uttered, the listeners stamp their feet on the ground and make a great racket with ratchets and rattles. This symbolizes a deletion of the name of the evil monarch.
Matanot Laevionim: give to those who need it
Although helping those who need it most is a concern throughout the year, during Purim it is more important to fulfill this precept. During the carnival of the Jews you have to offer charity to at least two people who need it.
Mishloach Manot: Sending Food to Friends on Purim
The Jewish carnival is a time of unity and friendship, celebrated by sending food to loved ones. It is important that the gifts that are sent contain at least two types of food and that men send food to other men and women to other women,
If it is better to enhance charity with the needy without an intermediary, it is better to send food through third parties. Children usually do it.
Eat, drink and be merry during the carnival of the Jews
Purim is one of the most joyous celebrations in the Jewish calendar and to honor it, families and friends gather around a special meal at least once a day on the 14th of Adar. It is part of the ritual to drink alcohol during this meal.
Some Purim customs: Haman’s ears and costumes
During the celebration of the Jewish carnival, children often wear funny costumes that often allude to the miracle that happened so many centuries ago. In addition, it is customary to prepare delicious sweets called Ears of Haman, Hamantashan or Oznei Haman. They consist of a flour-based dough that is filled with sweet figs, quince, or poppy seeds and sometimes with nuts. They have a very peculiar shape, in the shape of a triangle with the filling in the center, partially hidden.