Purim 2017: Photos Of Jewish Holiday Celebrations

The 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar is celebrated as the start of Purim every year and the celebrations go on until the next evening. Saturday evening marked the start of Purim this year. The festival celebrates the heroism of Esther and Mordecai who freed the Jews in 4th century Persian Empire from being annihilated by an ominous plan created by the king's adviser, Haman. This holiday was first celebrated in the first century and has gradually become more popular around the world.

During the Purim holiday, Jews read the story of Esther and offer retellings of the story to their children. People enjoy the holiday with festive meals, dressing up in various costumes and dancing. Purim is considered to be a time to give. Following the tradition, families exchange gifts and treats in baskets while children dress up in costumes. Plays and parades are also held on the day Purim starts or on the eve of the Jewish celebratory holiday. People also offer money, clothes or food to the poor as a part of the celebration and consume festival meals that include wine and meat.

A major part of the tradition includes reading the Book of Esther, known as "the Scroll," or Megillah in Hebrew. It is generally read once on the eve of Purim and again on the next day. People retell the story of Esther to their children, which is considered an important part of the celebrations. During the synagogue services, churchgoers reportedly shake noisemakers known as "groggers" while mentioning the name of the villain, Haman, and believe that this act would "blot out" his name from history.

Bible verses are also read during Purim. Some important ones include:

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And you know whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8