7 Purim Traditions to Celebrate the Joyful Holiday
Purim is a joyful Jewish holiday that celebrates the survival of the Jewish people in ancient Persia, as told in the biblical Book of Esther. It falls on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar, which in 2025 corresponds to the evening of March 13 through the evening of March 14 (the date changes every year against the Gregorian calendar).
Sometimes compared to Mardi Gras, and sometimes also compared with Halloween just because of its masquerade tradition, Purim is filled with feasting, costumes and celebrations; fun and joy are at its core. But also at the heart of Purim is a story of courage, faith and triumph against long odds.
“Purim is one of the happiest holidays of the year and contains so many traditions,” explains Edana Appel, director of camp and family programs at the J Los Angeles, the Mid-City area's active Jewish community center. “One of the most important parts of Purim is that we learn from the story that there is value in owning your identity and standing up for yourself and others."
As told in the book of Esther, the Purim story takes place long ago in the Persian Empire, where an evil royal advisor named Haman sought to destroy the Jewish people. He convinced King Ahasuerus to issue a decree calling for their extermination. But Queen Esther, a Jewish woman who had hidden her identity, bravely revealed the truth to the king, risking her life to save her people. With help from her cousin Mordecai, Esther came up with her own plan that dashed Haman's wicked plot and condemned him to punishment.
Today, Purim is celebrated all over the world with an array of lively traditions meant to remind us that even in the darkest times, hope and courage can prevail. “The holiday inspires us to celebrate our existence and remember that we only benefit from spreading joy and helping those around us,” Appel says.
Here's a look at seven of the holiday's most commonly observed traditions.
Wearing Costumes
Dressing up in costumes is a fun and significant part of Purim — and it's likely the most widely recognized aspect of the holiday. Yes, it's especially fun for the kids — but not exclusively; all ages can join in. This tradition symbolizes the hidden miracles in the story of Esther and adds to the joyous atmosphere of the holiday.
“Celebrating Purim is a time to play with reality and lean into our dreams!” Appel says. “Some people will dress up as the characters from the Purim story. However, all costumes are celebrated.”
Hearing the Purim Story
One of the central traditions of Purim — which is also a mitzvah, or commandment, as Appel explains — is the public reading of the Megillah, also known as the Book of Esther, which recounts the story of Purim.
“Some people will attend the reading of the story directly from the Megillah, the official scroll of the story,” Appel says. “Some people will participate in or attend a Purim shpiel, a more informal retelling of the Purim story usually written with a theme and songs that are more familiar to everyone using pop culture references.”
During the telling of the story of Purim, regardless of whether it is a formal reading or informal retelling, Appel says, “the most important tradition is to make lots of noise at the mention of Haman — our antagonist's name — during the story."
Making Hamantaschen
Hamantaschen are triangular pastries filled with sweet fillings such as poppy seed, jam, or chocolate. Eating them is a reminder of Haman's defeat at the hands of courageous Queen Esther.
“The name Hamantaschen is Yiddish and refers to Haman, the Purim bad guy, and the shape in this tradition refers to his hat,” Appel explains. (In Hebrew they are called oznei Haman, which references Haman's ears.)
“There are endless recipes and fillings and many people will include these traditional cookies in their mishloach manot,” or gift baskets, Appel says.
Giving Gift Baskets (Mishloach Manot)
A key practice of Purim is giving food gifts to friends and family, known as mishloach manot. These packages usually contain at least two different types of food, such as hamantaschen, fruit or candy, and the sharing helps strengthen community bonds.
“These are gift bags that are given to family and friends to increase their joy in celebrating this holiday,” Apple says. “These gifts are specifically supposed to contain food and drink items because eating and drinking is joyful and it helps contribute to the festive meal, another tradition of Purim.”
Enjoying a Festive Holiday Meal
To that end, a celebratory feast is another traditional part of Purim. Families and friends gather to enjoy a joyous meal that typically includes bread, meat, wine, and other holiday favorites. “Another option would be to have a meal that features everyone's favorite foods,” Appel says. “Again, the focus is about bringing joy to the highest levels.”
Giving to Those in Need (Matanot La’Evyonim)
It's customary on Purim to give charity to people who need it. These acts of kindness are meant to ensure that everyone can partake in the holiday celebrations, regardless of their circumstances.
“We cannot celebrate the joy of the holiday without ensuring that everyone in the community has something to feel joyful about,” Appel says. “So we also ensure we give gifts to the poor.
Many communities will use this tradition to cook meals or prepare food packages for those experiencing food insecurity, she explains. Monetary donations are also typical.
Attending a Carnival
“The celebratory energy of Purim lends itself to carnivals, so many communities will have large-scale carnivals to celebrate the holiday,” Appel explains. “This is a chance for communities to come together, celebrate and again raise the level of joy for everyone.”
Overall, “Purim is one of the most joyous holidays in the Jewish year,” Appel says. “It is a time to celebrate together as a community and offers a number of different traditions to bring joy to ourselves, our friends and our greater community.”
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