Purim in United States

People give food to those in need as part of their duties during Purim. ©iStockphoto.com/Howard Sandler

What do people do?

According to Jewish law, Jewish people must do four things on Purim. These are: listening to a public reading, often in a synagogue of the Book of Esther, or the Megilla (also referred to as Megillah); sending a gift of food to at least one friend; giving charity to the poor; and eating a festive meal. During the reading of the Megilla, each pronunciation of the name of Haman is drowned out by the noise of wooden rattles or other instruments that make loud noises. The services in the synagogue have a festive nature and often include elements, which would be unacceptable at other times of the year. Some people fast for one or more days before or after Purim.

People often give lavishly wrapped baskets of food to friends and money or food to those in need or charitable organizations, which is seen as helpful. During the festive meal, the main beverage is wine and people may drink large amounts. In Israel, public parades and puppet show performances illustrating the Book of Esther are held. These are also held in some areas in the United States with a large Jewish population.

Public life

Purim is a public holiday in Israel but not in the United States or Canada. Non-Jewish schools, stores, businesses and organizations are open as usual and public transit systems operate to their regular schedule. Jewish organizations may be closed. There may be some congestion around synagogues, as people gather to hear the reading of the Megilla, and some local disruption to traffic in areas, such as Queens in New York, where Purim parades are held.

Background

The Book of Esther, or the Megilla, is a book of the Old Testament and the Tankah. It is read aloud on Purim and tells the story of Esther, a Jewish Queen of Persia. She was married to the king of Persia, who was unaware of her religious background. Sometime around the year 357 BCE, the prime minister of Persia, Haman, and his wife plotted to kill all Jews in the Persian Empire. Esther heard of this plan and warned the king, risking her own safety. Haman and his sons were executed and the Jews were ordered to defend themselves against those who threatened them. This resulted in bloody battles, in which many people were killed. Purim celebrates the end of these battles.

In most areas, Purim is celebrated on the 13th day of the month of Adar. However, in cities that were surrounded by a wall at the time of Joshua (around 1200 BCE), such as Jerusalem, the festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Adar and is known as Shushan Purim. In common with all Jewish days, Purim begins at sunset on the secular day before the festival.

Symbols

Many people see graggers (wooden noisemakers) as symbolic of Purim. Graggers are often made of wood and consist of a handle fixed to a cogged wheel. The cogs on the wheel taps a thin piece of wood fixed to the handle, when the gragger is spun around. Graggers are used to block out the name of Haman, or the 'name of evil', during the reading of the Megilla, also known as The Book of Esther, on Purim. However, anything that makes a loud noise can be used and in some services people stamp their feet loudly instead. Other symbols of Purim include: the prettily wrapped gifts of food and snacks given to friends and poor people; the puppets used to act out the story of Esther for children; and the filled triangular cookies known as Hamentaschen, also referred to as Hamantaschen, Hamantasch or Osnei Haman.

Purim Observances

Other holidays in March 2008 in United States

• Daylight Saving Time starts (Sunday, March 9, 2008)
• Palm Sunday (Sunday, March 16, 2008)
• St. Patrick's Day (Monday, March 17, 2008)
• Maundy Thursday (Thursday, March 20, 2008)
• Vernal equinox (Thursday, March 20, 2008)
• Prophet's Birthday (Thursday, March 20, 2008)
• Good Friday (Friday, March 21, 2008)
• Holy Saturday (Saturday, March 22, 2008)
• Easter Sunday (Sunday, March 23, 2008)
• Easter Monday (Monday, March 24, 2008)
• Maryland Day (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)

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