Celebrating Purim, Sunday, Feb.28th

This year we celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim. What fun! I first learned of the holiday last year during a women's Bible study of the book of Esther. The ladies celebrated together last year, and we had so much fun that I promised myself to teach the kids about Purim and celebrate the holiday with them this year. We had a blast preparing "Haman's Pockets" (a tasty, triangular cookie filled with preserves). The cookie is supposed to resemble Haman's three cornered hat.

One of the key components of Purim is a feast with friends so we had a family over for Sunday afternoon supper. We prepared gifts of food to give away as well. We were able to share a few prepared gift baskets of the cookies we'd made, fruits, candies, and hot cocoa and teas. Surprising our friends with, "Happy Purim!" was fun for the kids because, of course, not many had even heard of the holiday. The funny thing about the Purim celebration is that there is lots of noise, dressing-up, and singing. We played the traditional Purim music during our baking session and giggled trying to sing along with the songs that were foreign to us. During the feast, we all taped Haman's name to the bottom of our foot and each person tries to stamp out the name of Haman. The Jewish people chant that cursed is the name of Haman and blessed be the name of Mordecai. Mordecai is Esther's adoptive father (her cousin who raised young, orphaned Esther). He influenced her to save her people from annihilation when Haman craftily plotted how to wipe out the entire Jewish nation.

Part of the celebration is to read "the whole Megillah," the whole book of Esther, sometimes on two separate occasions reading the complete book. One fun component is for all the listeners to loudly crack noisemakers called gragers, although we used Tommy's wooden instrument set, and to stomp their feet every time the name Haman is mentioned in the book of Esther. In case you haven't read Esther recently, Haman's name is mentioned ALOT!! The kids got a kick out of trying to "blot out" his name with their feet and their instruments! What a ruckus! Fun! Fun! I highly recommend incorporating this celebration into any family's holiday repetoire...I praise God for Esther's faith, her humility to seek God through fasting and prayer, and her willingness to risk her life for the sake of her people. May God continue to grant His children great faith and perseverance. May we continue to seek Him even as Esther so willingly did.