Purim

Purim Is the Jolliest Day of the Year
The jolly festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). It commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.”

• Reading the Megillah which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. This is done once on the eve of Purim and again the following day.
• Giving monetary gifts to at least two poor people.
• Sending gifts of two kinds of food to at least one person.
• A festive Purim feast, which often includes wine or other intoxicating beverages.

Of all Jewish holidays, this is the one when people let loose, dress up in silly costumes, and act in ways you’d never see them act during the rest of the year.