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Purim, a colorful Jewish holiday celebrating resilience and bravery, begins March 2 at sundown.
The one-day festival commemorates the salvation of Jews in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) who were threatened by massacre more than 2,000 years ago. Jews around the world celebrate the holiday each year with a variety of traditions, from children dressing up and parades to festive foods and readings.
Wondering how to wish someone a happy holiday? Curious about the customs, carnivals, costumes and cookies associated with the day? Here's what to know about Purim.
When is Purim?
Purim typically occurs around the same time each year in February or March. This year, it begins at sundown on Monday, March 2 and ends at sundown on Tuesday, March 3.
What is Purim?
Purim is a one-day festival that honors the Jews' salvation from near destruction in Persia, or ancient Iran, nearly 2,400 years ago.
Purim commemorates the story recounted in the biblical Book of Esther. The young Jewish woman became Queen of Persia around 500 BC and saved her people from a massacre by the Persian king's adviser, Haman. Haman had hatched a plan to annihilate all the Jews in ancient Persia and manipulated King Achashverosh to help carry it out, not knowing the king's wife was Jewish herself.
Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, foiled the plot and stopped Haman's plans from coming to fruition. An entire megillah, or book (or scroll in Hebrew) of the Bible, was devoted to her story, called the Book of Esther. It is read aloud twice at Purim.
Is Purim a religious holiday?
Purim is observed differently from other Jewish holidays. While it is a time of celebration, the laws of the Sabbath are not observed during Purim. This means even observant Jews will use their phones, drive cars, etc., during this holiday.
Because children often dress up as part of the festivities, you may hear some people compare it to Halloween. While that is a "very understandable and very apt comparison," Rabbi Elaine Glickman, assistant executive director of Women's Rabbinic Network, previously told USA TODAY, it could be seen as offensive.
"Purim is a deeply selfless celebration - one where gifts are given not only to friends, but to those most in need," she told USA TODAY.
How is Purim celebrated?
Purim, like many holidays, is celebrated differently in different places around the world.
In the United States, children often dress up in costumes, commonly depicting characters from the Book of Esther, and participate in parades and carnivals. Jews may also attend synagogue for a reading of the story, which happens night and morning.
Revelers use noisemakers called "groggers" and children are encouraged to yell "boo!" to drown out the name of the villainous Haman when it's mentioned.
Other holiday traditions include donating food or money to the needy, enjoying a celebratory meal and exchanging Purim baskets of treats ("mishloach manot" in Hebrew). Some may bake and eat a pastry called hamantaschen, a three-cornered cookie named after Haman's hat and usually filled with poppy seed or jam.
Wanting to wish someone a good holiday? You can simply say "Happy Purim" (pronounced like "poor-ihm") or "Chag Purim Sameach," which means "happy holiday" in Hebrew.
Contributing: David Oliver, USA TODAY; Deena Yellin, NorthJersey.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Purim 2026? Everything to know about Jewish holiday.