Thread by @HistoricalJW

Purim is considered to be the happiest holiday in Judaism doe its costumes, songs, dances, sweet foods, but what exactly do the Jews celebrate? (THREAD)

The story takes place in the Persian Empire, around 480 BC. At the head of the kingdom stands King Ahasuerus and he rules in 127 different countries. Ahasuerus had a senior minister named Haman and a beautiful wife named Vashti.

Ahasuerus was known for the great feasts he would make for very long days. He invited his beautiful wife Vashti, to impress the rest of the people of the kingdom but she refused the invitation. Ahasuerus was mad and decided to look for a new wife.

Over the days, young virgin beautiful looking women were gathered by the king’s servants where he would choose whom to marry. Among them, a Jewish woman named Esther, a descendant of the Binyamin tribe.

Esther had no parents and she grew up with her uncle Mordechai who asked her to hide her Jewishness. The king was fascinated by Esther's beauty, he fell in love with her and thus she became Ahasuerus' other wife.

At this time, the king promotes and praises his close minister, Haman, who according to Jewish tradition was a descendant of the Amalekites (who were enemies of the Israelites). The ministers bowed to Haman, and Mordechai the Jew, who was also a servant of the kingdom, refused.

The refusal to bow to Haman provoked his anger, and this caused him to embroider a cruel plan against Mordechai and his people and that was to kill the Jewish people all over the kingdom and thus began to convince the king that the slaughter of all Jews should be ordered.

Haman casts Pur, which means "casting lots"; the name of the holiday “Purim” is named after this. In this lottery, it was chosen that on the 13th of the month of Adar in the Hebrew calendar - a massacre of the Jewish people will take place.

Ahasuerus agrees, an order is issued that on this date the people of the kingdom should get up and plunder the homes of the Jews and kill them until no Jew remains throughout the kingdom. The Jews and Mordechai heard about the degree and began to mourn their fate.

Mordecai asks Esther, the king's wife, to persuade him to cancel the decree. But this plan was very dangerous, since the king doesn’t know Esther is Jewish, but also if she comes to him without his invitation - she will endanger herself in her death.

Despite the great risk, Esther agrees, and asks Mordechai that the Jews would fast and pray for 3 days & 3 nights. Her plan was to convince the king to hold a feast in which he’ll get drunk so she persuades him to cancel the decree. At the first feast the king doesn’t cancel it.

At the second feast, Esther asks Ahasuerus that he must save her and her people. The king didn’t understand what this is about, and Esther admits that she is Jewish. Ahasuerus was very angry and left the feast.

At this time Haman arrived, he tried to talk to Esther but accidentally tripped and fell closely next to her. The king had just returned and saw Haman close to his beautiful and beloved wife, his anger increased, and he decided that Haman should be hung on a tree.

Although the order wasn’t revoked, the king instructed Esther that the Jews could fight back against anyone who tried to kill them. According to the Book of Esther, the Jews killed about 75,000 enemies who tried to kill them.

The Jews rejoiced greatly, and celebrated their victory, they promised that this story would be told from generation to generation and that they must not forget this story.

The main mitzvot (commandments) of the holiday are:
• reading of the Book of Esther
• distribution of gifts to the poor
• sending of parcels to friends
• holding a feast

In the Middle Ages, the Jews began to celebrate this holiday in costumes probably influenced by other peoples. Another customs that were adopted over the years is giving money to children, and baking Hamantaschen.