6 Fun Facts About Purim

What is Purim? 

1. Purim is one of the most popular Jewish holidays for families and children (of all ages). There is feasting and gladness, gift-giving and tzedakah (charity), revelry and drinking (in moderation).

Purim is a holiday based on the Book of Esther. Queen Esther of Persia bravely revealed her Jewish identify saving the Jews from extinction by the evil, Haman, adviser to the King. (Poo poo poo - his name is blotted out.) 

Queen Bracelet (click on image)

2. Purim is like Mardi Gras, Easter, and Halloween all rolled into one. You wear costumes so your identity is hidden. "Masks and costumes show that truth always lies beneath the surface, that the physical world conceals the true spiritual reality." HaShem is not mentioned once in the Book of Esther, the Megillah. But, we know that G-d's divine guidance influences the story (Rabbi Mordechai Becher).

Linda in Cat Costume

3. Drinking alcohol is encouraged, in moderation. "A person is obligated to drink on Purim," says the Talmud, "until he does not know the difference between 'Cursed be Haman' and 'Blessed be Mordechai'."

4. The Book of Esther, Megillat Esther, is read in the synagogue. It's a mitzvah to hear it. During the reading, when Haman's name is mentioned, congregants boo, hiss, stamp their feet and wave gragers (noisemakers) to drown out his name. (click on image)

Purim orders are due by March 1 to reach you in time for the festival. 

5. On Purim the Megillah mandates that we give gifts to friends (mishloach manot), usually of food, and to the poor (matanot l’evyonim). It is a tradition for congregations to collect money in memory of the half shekel collected in ancient days for the upkeep of the Temple. Purim is a time for carnivals and parties and masquerades. Most Jewish congregations hold special carnivals for children, and children dress in costumes that commemorate the various characters of the Purim story. They perform humorous plays called Purim shpiels, which more often than not mock both the characters in the story and leaders in the Jewish community.

6. Hamentaschen- the best treats hamantaschen: triangle-shaped cookie pastries with fruit or savory filling. The treat is said to look like Haman's tri-cornered hat or his ears ("oznei Haman" in Hebrew). Sweet hamantaschen are most popular, with poppy seed, chocolate, date, apricot, or apple filling. (see below for recipe).

Food Magazine featured Hamentaschen last year. Note: I don't cook much, but I do look at recipes.

Hamantashen recipe

Ingredients: 

4 eggs  
1 cup sugar  
1/2 cup oil  
juice of one lemon  
rind of 1 lemon, grated
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups flour
2 tsps. baking powder

Fillings:

1 pound prepared poppy seed filling
or, 1 pound lekvar (apple or prune butter)
or 1 pound strawberry or apricot preserves

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350 

Grease cookie sheets 

Beat eggs and sugar. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Divide into four parts.

1. Prepare dough of your choice. Divide into four portions  2. On a floured board roll out each portion to about 1/8-inch thick. Using a round biscuit or cookie cutter cut 3-inch circles. 

2. Place 1/2 to 2/3 teaspoon of desired filling in the center of each circle.

3. To shape into triangle, lift up right and left sides, leaving the bottom down and bring both side to meet at the center above the filling. 

4. Bring top flap down to the center to meet the two sides. Pinch edges together.

5. Place on grease cookie sheet 1 inch apart and bake at 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes.

What's your Purim costume?  Add your comment below

Also see prior blog posts: Purim, Purim Holiest Day?

Suggested reading: Amazon Affiliate: I may get 2 cents for your purchase. 

I attended a Webinar and author Dara Horn was interviewed. She is very passionate about this topic and I look forward to reading another book she wrote.