If you’ve ever walked through a Jewish neighborhood in early spring and seen a grown man dressed as a giant taco or a group of kids handing out decorated baskets of food, you’ve stumbled upon the Jewish festival of Purim. It's loud. It’s chaotic. Honestly, it’s probably the most misunderstood date on the Hebrew calendar because people look at the surface-level partying and think it’s just "Jewish Halloween."
It isn't.
Purim is actually rooted in a pretty dark story of survival from the 4th century BCE. We're talking about ancient Persia, a king who couldn't make up his mind, a genocidal advisor named Haman, and a hidden queen who had to risk her life to save her people. It’s a story of "v'nahafoch hu"—a Hebrew phrase meaning "it was turned upside down." That theme of things being the opposite of what they seem is why everyone wears masks. It’s why the wine flows. It’s why the day feels like a fever dream.
What Actually Happened in Shushan?
To understand the Jewish festival of Purim, you have to go back to the Book of Esther (the Megillah). King Ahasuerus throws a massive 180-day party. He gets drunk, boots his wife Vashti, and starts a kingdom-wide beauty pageant to find a replacement. Enter Esther. She’s Jewish, but on the advice of her cousin Mordechai, she keeps her identity a secret.
Then things get heavy.
Haman, the King’s high-ranking advisor, gets his feelings hurt because Mordechai won't bow to him. Most people would just complain; Haman decides to lobby for the extermination of every Jew in the empire. He casts lots—called purim—to pick the date for the massacre. The date falls on the 13th of Adar.
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The tension in the text is palpable. Mordechai tells Esther she has to go to the King, even though approaching the throne without an invitation was basically a death sentence. Esther’s response? "If I perish, I perish." She fasts for three days, invites the King and Haman to a series of banquets, and eventually reveals her identity. The King is furious at Haman, the decree is flipped, and the Jews are allowed to defend themselves. They win.
The Four Must-Do Traditions (Mitzvot)
While some holidays are about sitting in a synagogue for ten hours, Purim is about action. There are four specific obligations, and they’re kind of a logistical whirlwind if you’re the one organizing them.
1. Reading the Megillah
You have to hear the story of Esther read from a handwritten parchment scroll. Twice. Once at night and once the next morning. But here’s the catch: every time the name "Haman" is mentioned, the room explodes. People use graggers (noisemakers), stomp their feet, and boo. It’s a way of "blotting out" the name of evil. If you miss a single word because of the noise, you technically haven't fulfilled the requirement, so the reader usually pauses while everyone gets the screaming out of their system.
2. Mishloach Manot (Giving Food)
Basically, you have to give a gift of at least two different types of ready-to-eat food to at least one friend. In reality? People go overboard. You’ll see themed baskets—maybe an "Italian Night" with pasta sauce and wine, or a "Breakfast" theme with cereal and milk. It’s meant to build community and make sure everyone has enough food for the festive meal.
3. Matanot L'evyonim (Gifts to the Poor)
This is actually the most important part of the Jewish festival of Purim, though it gets less "grid-space" on social media. You have to give to at least two needy people. The idea is that you can’t truly celebrate while others are hungry. Many people just donate to charities like Leket Israel or local food banks on the day of.
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4. The Seudah (The Feast)
The afternoon of Purim is reserved for a massive meal. There’s meat, there’s wine, and there’s usually a lot of singing. In some circles, there's a tradition to drink until you "don't know the difference between 'Cursed be Haman' and 'Blessed be Mordechai'." It’s a controversial custom, and many rabbis today emphasize that if drinking makes you act like a jerk or puts you in danger, you shouldn't do it. The goal is a state of spiritual "unknowing," not a trip to the ER.
The Food: It’s All About the Pockets
You can't talk about Purim without mentioning Hamantaschen. These are three-cornered pastries usually filled with poppy seeds (mohn), apricot, or chocolate. Some say they represent Haman’s hat; others say they represent his ears. A more "insider" explanation is that they represent "hidden" strength—the filling is hidden inside the dough, just as God’s presence was hidden throughout the Purim story (God’s name isn’t actually mentioned once in the entire Book of Esther).
In Sephardic traditions, you’ll find Ojos de Haman (Haman’s eyes), which is a bread made with whole boiled eggs in the center. You rip the "eyes" out to symbolically destroy the villain. It’s a bit more graphic, but the kids love it.
Why the Costumes?
If you’re wondering why there are people dressed as Spider-Man or historical figures walking to synagogue, it’s because of the "hiddenness" theme again. In the story, everything was a disguise. Esther hid her Jewishness. God worked behind the scenes through "coincidences" like the King having insomnia on the exact night he needed to read the royal records. By wearing masks, we acknowledge that the world isn't always what it looks like on the surface.
Common Misconceptions
People often think Purim is a "major" holiday like Rosh Hashanah or Passover. Technically, it’s a "minor" festival in terms of work restrictions. You can drive, use your phone, and go to work—though most people take the day off because trying to answer emails while your kids are vibrating from a sugar rush and wearing dinosaur suits is impossible.
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Another big one: "It's just for kids."
Actually, the legal obligations apply to adults. In many ways, the adult celebrations are more intense. The theological questions Purim raises—about living as a minority in a foreign land and the nature of divine providence—are pretty "grown-up" topics.
The Calendar Quirk: Shushan Purim
Here is where it gets slightly confusing. Most of the world celebrates on the 14th of Adar. But if you live in a city that was walled during the time of Joshua (like Jerusalem), you celebrate on the 15th. This is called Shushan Purim. Why? Because in the original story, the Jews in the capital city of Shushan needed an extra day to finish the battle. This creates a "Purim Meshulash" (Triple Purim) when the dates fall on a Friday, stretching the celebration over three days.
Real-World Action Steps for Observing Purim
If you're looking to actually participate or just want to respect the traditions, here’s how you actually do it without overcomplicating things:
- Check the Date: The Hebrew calendar is lunar, so Purim moves every year. In 2026, it starts on the evening of March 3rd. Mark it now so you aren't surprised by the sudden influx of costumes.
- Focus on the "Small" Giving: Don't get stressed about making 50 fancy gift baskets. The law is satisfied by giving one basket to one friend. Focus your energy on the Matanot L'evyonim (the poor) instead.
- Find a Megillah Reading: Check a local Chabad or community center. They usually have multiple readings, including "speedy" ones or ones geared toward families.
- Eat Something Meaningful: If you're baking Hamantaschen, try a savory filling like caramelized onions or pizza sauce. It's a game-changer for the Seudah meal when everyone is tired of sugar.
- Think About the "Mask": Take a second to think about what "mask" you’re wearing in your daily life. Purim is the one day where wearing a literal mask is supposed to help you reveal your internal truth.
Purim is a reminder that even when things look bleak—when decrees are signed and villains are in power—the script can flip in a second. It’s a celebration of resilience, hidden miracles, and the absolute necessity of joy as a form of resistance.