Every year we dress up in costume to celebrate, we hear tales about drinking, maybe we've even given a shot at baking hamantaschen, but why? What is Purim really all about? 

Purim falls this year on Wednesday, March 7 at sundown. Purim is sometimes called the Jewish Mardi Gras because it features both costumes and drinking, but there's some real meaning behind this joyful holiday.Commemorating the Jews' victory against anti-Semitism in ancient Persia (as described in the Biblical book of Esther), Purim reminds us of the importance of speaking up for what's right, even when that's risky. With Queen Esther as the holiday's heroine, Purim also celebrates the leadership of women in our history and our lives.

We celebrate Purim with communal readings of The Book of Esther (known as "The Megillah," the Hebrew wordfor scroll), during which the congregation, in costume, drowns out the name of Haman, the story's villain, with noisemakers (called groggers in Yiddish). Other Purim traditions include celebrating with alcohol and festive meals, eating hamantaschen, holding Purim Shpiels or Carnivals with games and prizes for kids, giving gift baskets called Mishloach Manot to friends and making donations to the poor called Matanot L'Evyonim.

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