Purim (2012-03-08 - 2012-03-09)

Purim (the Fate Festival) is one of the most joyful Jewish holidays that resemble carnival.
This festival honors the salvage of hundreds of thousands of Jews who escaped Persian annihilation. Persian king Kserkses, who in Jewish tradition appears as Achaszwerosz, had two advisors: Jewish Mordechai and Herman. Wise Mordechai together with his niece Esther rescued Jews. They managed to convince the king that Herman is a traitor and that he was planning to dethrone him. The king fell in love with Esther and thus easily got persuaded to that conspiracy. He ordered to kill Herman and all of his sons what made Persians exulted and relieved. To commemorate those events every year in Synagogues the Book of Esther is read and every time name Herman can be heard the attendees make noise, patter or rattle.

Purim festival can be well compared to carnival which is time of joy, play and gifts. In the evening great feast takes place where the core delicacy is cakes in the shape of a triangle which is commonly called as Herman's Ears (Hamentaszen). Sometimes the feast is kept in the character of masqueraders ball where men put on female clothes and the other way round. Children wander from house to house playing Purim Spiel - performance presenting Esther's history. This festival is celebrated well among religious and nonreligious Jews. This is a day where people willingly share goods with the poor and offer presents to one another. There is another Purim custom which might bring risk of committing little offence against the laws. This is because of the tradition that orders to drink alcohol to a moment when you cannot differentiate between the following two whoops: "Let Mordehai be blessed!" and "Let Herman be cursed!". This custom is inspired by the historical moment when the king was informed about the sabotage and he got completely drunk.

Take this opportunity and send ecards, purim cards with purim quotes and wishes in this special day.