Purim

Purim History

Purim (Hebrew: פּוּרִים) is a Jewish Holiday which commemorates Jewish people being saved from extermination in Persia.

The story of Purim comes from the Biblical book of Esther. In it, Haman, a high ranking advisor to King Ahasuerus, sought to kill all Jews in ancient Persia. He is motivated by an incident in which Mordechai, a Jewish leader, defied the king's orders and refused to bow to Haman.

Haman is stopped through the actions of Mordechai and his niece Esther, a beautiful and courageous Jewish woman. Esther initially disguises her Jewish Identity and eventually becomes Queen. Through their actions the King becomes aware of Haman's plot and is persuaded to have him hanged.

Date shown reflects the main observance day. This observance begins at sundown on the day before.

Top 10 Facts for Purim in 2026

• The central text of the holiday, the Book of Esther, is the only book in the Hebrew Bible that does not explicitly mention the name of God, a fact that underscores the holiday’s theme of hidden miracles.
• Many historical discussions center on the "Purim Miracle" of 1953, where the death of Joseph Stalin occurred just as he was reportedly planning a massive deportation of Soviet Jews, a connection explored in the documentary The Death of Stalin: The Untold Purim Story.
• For the 2026 observance in Jerusalem, the city is hosting a massive revival of its traditional street parade known as the Adloyada, which features giant puppets, orchestras, and a "United Purim" theme to celebrate communal resilience.
• A significant custom involves sending mishloach manot, which are gift baskets containing at least two different types of ready-to-eat foods, such as the signature triangular pastries known as hamantaschen.
• The holiday is traditionally celebrated one day later in ancient walled cities like Jerusalem, an observance called Shushan Purim that commemorates the extra day of battle and rest experienced by the Jews in the Persian capital of Shushan.
• Modern culinary trends for the 2026 season include creative variations of traditional treats, such as Pizza-Stuffed Hamantaschen and sushi-themed gift baskets, blending global flavors with festive requirements.
• The practice of wearing costumes and masks is rooted in the concept of hester panim, or the "hiding of the face," symbolizing how the divine presence remained concealed behind natural events throughout the Purim narrative.
• Celebrants fulfill the obligation of matanot la'evyonim by giving direct monetary gifts to at least two people in need, ensuring that the entire community can afford to participate in the joyous Seudat Purim feast.
• Some educational programs utilize creative adaptations like The Lion King and the Book of Esther to draw parallels between modern storytelling and the ancient account of bravery and hidden identity.
• During the public reading of the Megillah, it is customary to use a noisemaker called a grogger to create a cacophony every time the villain Haman's name is mentioned, symbolically "blotting out" his legacy.

In the News and Trending in the US for Purim

Top things to do in the US for Purim

• Make a Mishloach Manot (also known as mishloach manos or shalach manos). This is a gift of at least two kinds of food that are ready to eat. Give them out to neighbors, friends and associates.
• Make Hamantaschen cookies. These are pocket triangle shaped cookies that are often made with fruit, poppy seed or cheese filling.
• Attend a Purim Carnival or Festival. Some of the more popular ones are the Carnival at Mamilla (Jerusalem) and Cirque Du Purim in Minneapolis.
• Donate to the poor. It is customary and part of tradition to give at least two gifts to two poor people on Purim.
• Visit a Jewish Museum. Many put on special activities for kids such as plays, performances, and costume parties