(Describer) Title: All About the Holidays. Each letter in 'holidays' has a different colorful pattern. Pages of a calendar turn.

(male narrator) Purim is celebrated in the Jewish community each year sometime in February or March. It's the Jewish holiday commemorating the biblical story of Queen Esther of Persia, who rescued all of the Jews who lived in the ancient Persian Empire, which existed more than 2,000 years ago.

(Describer) She’s shown in a painting.

The story's villain, Haman, was the Persian king's adviser. Haman feared the Jewish people and decreed they be removed from the empire. Queen Esther, who secretly was Jewish, revealed her ancestry and persuaded the king to ignore the decree. He agreed with her, and the Jews were spared. On Purim, Esther's story is read aloud in synagogues, and whenever Haman is mentioned, noisemakers called ra'ashanim, or gragers, are sounded to drown out his name. People often attend the reading in costume and perform the purim shpiel, a play during which they act out the events of the Book of Esther and ridicule the villain. Purim is a joyful day with carnivals and parades. Jewish people donate to charities, exchange mishloach manot, gifts of food and drink, and share a festive meal together.

(Describer) Title:

Do you like to act out your favorite stories?

(Describer) Funding to purchase and make this educational program accessible was provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Contact the Department of Education by telephone at 1-800-USA-LEARN, or online at www dot ed dot gov.