Purim

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A Jewish festival that celebrates when Jews escaped a plot to kill them in ancient Persia

proper noun
/ˈpʊrɪm/

: Purim

Now it was time to make hamantaschen, the traditional Purim pastries.

Examples

Along with reinterpreting the characters, feminists are also adapting Purim more to their liking by offering new ways to commemorate and practice the holiday.

Academic text (2010)
Purim is now a vehicle for teaching tolerance and raising awareness about domestic violence.

Academic text (2010)
What is it about Purim that is so special to you, Mama?

For Your Consideration (2006)
But I like Purim a lot.

For Your Consideration (2006)
You know what Purim is?

Anita B. (2014)
Of course I knew it was Purim.

Academic text (2012)
Spring was in the air, and tonight Shana's favorite holiday, the Jewish festival of Purim, began.

Fiction book (1999)
Shaindey finds it fascinating, endlessly fascinating, that in Israel you can have Purim for three days!

Fiction book (2002)
In cities like Chattanooga, Pittsburgh, and New York, women gathered to celebrate the defiant heroine of Purim, listen to Middle Eastern music, and talk about empowering women and stopping domestic violence.

Academic text (2010)
Tomorrow night, on the Jewish holiday of Purim, we'll read the Book of Esther.

Surface Forms

Purim main

Etymology

Purim comes from the Hebrew word pur meaning 'lot', a way of choosing by chance. In the Purim story a man named Haman cast lots to pick a day to harm the Jews, but they were saved, so the holiday's name remembers those 'lots' and the rescue.