Celebrating Purim

3/1/2025

Celebrating Purim

Purim is a festive and joyous Jewish holiday that commemorates the triumph of good over evil, as recounted in the Book of Esther. It’s a time to reflect on how Queen Esther, through her bravery and conviction, saved the Jewish people from the wicked plans of Haman, the king’s advisor. Through Esther’s strength, Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews was foiled. This day is dedicated to celebrating this miraculous turn of events and takes place this year on March 13th.

The Brave Queen Esther: A Purim Story

A long time ago, in the land of Persia, there was a king named Ahasuerus. He ruled over a vast kingdom and had a beautiful queen named Vashti. However, one day, Queen Vashti refused to obey the king’s command, and she was no longer queen.

The king needed a new queen, so he decided to hold a grand contest for all the young women in the kingdom. Among them was a kind and brave Jewish girl named Esther. Esther didn’t tell anyone that she was Jewish because her cousin Mordecai had advised her to keep it a secret.

Esther was chosen to be the new queen, and she lived in the palace. Meanwhile, the king’s advisor, Haman, was a very cruel man. He despised Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman was so enraged that he devised a terrible plan to harm all the Jewish people in the kingdom.

When Mordecai discovered Haman’s evil plan, he sent a message to Esther, urging her to approach the king and save the Jewish people. However, going to the king without an invitation was risky—it could even result in punishment! Esther felt scared, but she knew that she had to be brave.

“I will go to the king,” she said. “And if I perish, I perish.”

Esther went to the king and invited him and Haman to a special banquet. During the banquet, Esther revealed her Jewish identity and informed the king of Haman’s evil plan. The king was so furious that he ordered Haman to be punished, and the Jewish people were saved!

To celebrate their victory, the Jewish people established a holiday called Purim. On Purim, we honour Queen Esther’s bravery and the courage of all those who supported her. We don costumes, exchange gifts, and enjoy a grand feast to commemorate the wonderful story of how good triumphed over evil.

Jennifer as a child celebrating Purim and dressed up as Queen Esther.

Hey, Jennifer here!! I have so many wonderful memories of celebrating Purim as a child. On Purim, many people wear costumes, often reflecting themes from the Purim story, as it’s a celebration of hidden identities—Esther herself kept her Jewish identity a secret until the right moment.

I loved dressing up as Queen Esther and going to the synagogue to hear the Rabbi read the story of Esther from the Bible. I cherished how raucous the congregation would become on this day, and this day alone. Every time the Rabbi mentioned the name of the villain in the story, we would all make these loud noises with noisemakers called “groggers.”

I loved the songs we sang during this holiday, and I adored the sweet pastry treats called Hamantaschen that we would eat. ‘Hamantaschen’ is the Yiddish word meaning ‘Haman's pockets.’ Haman is the villain in the Purim story. Jews eat Hamantaschen on Purim as part of the celebration to remember how they escaped Haman's evil plans.

Find a recipe to make your own Hamantaschen here.

Purim is a holiday filled with joy, laughter, and celebration, reminding us that even in difficult times, bravery, faith, and unity can triumph over adversity. It's a day to not only reflect on the story but also to share happiness with others.

Daily Wonder encourages families to explore and learn about the variety of celebrations and festivals celebrated worldwide. The best way to understand a new festival is by connecting with friends, neighbours, and community members who celebrate different holidays than your own. If that's not possible, engaging with food, music, stories and rituals is another excellent way to do this.

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