Celebrating the Feast of Purim
Esther and Mordecai didn’t wait long for the dust to settle before calling upon the people to remember their day of deliverance from Haman the Agagite. They instituted the Feast of Purim to celebrate and remember.
Purim comes from PUR, meaning casting of lots
Note: The words, Purim and pur are only found in the book of Esther. Elsewhere in the Bible when you see the words, casting lots, the word used is goral.
The word for sending presents of food, is Manot (plural is Manah). It is the same word in Psalm 16:5, portion. It also reminds me of the word, manna – the bread that fed the Isrealites while they wandered in the wilderness.
More About the Feast of Purim
This feast is celebrated in early spring, though dates vary according to the Jewish calendar. It begins with a fast, just like Esther’s. Then a day of feasting and joy celebrated by giving gifts, sending food to the poor, parades, and dressing in costumes. And they read the Megillah: the scroll of Esther, twice a day.
Purim is a reminder that God saved His people from the destruction planned by Haman. Click To Tweet
The celebration also includes acting out the story of Esther in the synagogue. They use noisemakers, boo, and stomp their feet when the name of Haman is mentioned to blot out the name of Haman. People cheer at the name of Mordecai, and sigh when Queen Esther’s name is read.
Some have called Purim the Jewish Mardi Gras Click To Tweet
Some call Purim the Jewish Mardi Gras because of the feasting and joy that overtakes everyone. They enjoy traditional foods like Hamantaschen, a triangle shaped pastry with jam filling; some say it looks like Haman’s hat or his ears.
Hamantaschen Recipe and an Esther Drama
These little triangle shaped cookies are delicious. Here is the recipe I used.
You can also watch the drama of Esther on the stage. Book of Esther Play on Youtube
I hope you will have some fun with your own Purim celebration and enjoy this book of the Bible that is a favorite of mine.
Jeanne
Thanks for joining my on this journey through the book of Esther. I will be sending a message to you soon, to ask for your feedback. I appreciate any suggestions you can give on how this blog series might have helped you as you read Esther’s story.
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Amazon Resources to Help you to Celebrate: