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Embrace the happiness and festive spirit as we welcome Erev Purim on March 23! Held on the Hebrew calendar date of Adar 13, Erev Purim marks the eve of the colorful and joyous festival of Purim. This age-old Jewish tradition involves community gatherings, vibrant costumes, feasting on hamantaschen (triangular filled pastries), and the exciting retelling of the story of Esther. As a prelude to Purim Day, Erev Purim holds an air of anticipation and festivity, echoing with sounds of graggers (noisemakers) that drown out the name of the villain Haman and adding a context of victory and triumph to the celebration. It's time to get your costumes and feast ready, let's make this Erev Purim truly memorable!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>4th Century BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Historical Origin</div><div class='timeline-text'>Erev Purim's origin is traced back to the events documented in the Book of Esther in the Persian Empire, featuring Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2nd Century BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Book of Esther</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Book of Esther is included in the third section of the Jewish Tanakh, providing an account of the miraculous events leading to the celebration of Purim and Erev Purim.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Middle Ages</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Erev Purim Customs</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the Middle Ages, distinctive customs and traditions associated with Erev Purim evolve, including public readings of the Book of Esther, exchanging gifts, and giving charity.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>19th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Hamantaschen Popularity</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 1800s, the tradition of baking and consuming hamantaschen, the triangular filled pastries, becomes an integral part of Erev Purim and Purim celebrations.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>20th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Global Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>By the 20th century, Erev Purim and its associated traditions have become globally recognized, celebrating Jewish history, resilience, and joy in many nations worldwide.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Craft your own graggers</h3><p class='facts-text'>Add a personal touch to the celebration! Gather a few basic art and craft supplies and create your own graggers. Let your creativity shine, paint these noisemakers in vibrant colors, and add sparkling glitters or stickers for a fancy touch.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prepare traditional food</h3><p class='facts-text'>Cook your favorite traditional Jewish dishes, including delicious Hamantaschen pastries, for Erev Purim. Involve the whole family in this fun-loving activity, as it is also an excellent opportunity to bond with your loved ones.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Arrange a storytelling session</h3><p class='facts-text'>Organize a special storytelling session and narrate the heroic tale of Queen Esther to your family and friends. Make it more engaging by using props to add depth to the characters.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a costume party</h3><p class='facts-text'>To honor and relive the tale of Esther, host a costume party at home. Encourage your family and friends to dress up as their favorite Purim characters. You can also consider offering prizes for the best costumes.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Plan a community celebration</h3><p class='facts-text'>Erev Purim is all about community celebrations. Plan a small gathering in your local area, include music, dancing, and food to make it a memorable event. Remember to respect and follow local health guidelines while planning any community events.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Erev Purim boosts a sense of community</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Erev Purim promotes communal ties. It encourages people to connect with their Jewish heritage, and fosters close-knit bonds between individuals and their local communities. This sense of togetherness is truly special and one of the reasons that makes Erev Purim so loved.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages creativity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>From making colorful graggers to preparing traditional Jewish dishes, and hosting a costume party, Erev Purim encourages creativity and hands-on artistry. This day allows everyone, especially the young ones, to unleash their creativity and enjoy the fun activities associated with the festival.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It educates about historic Jewish traditions</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Erev Purim presents an engaging way to educate young minds about Jewish traditions and the meaningful story of Queen Esther. The storytelling session allows for a fun, interactive way to share legends and heritage with the younger generation. Thus, keeping the age-old traditions alive.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Erev Purim initiates the Purim obligations</h3><p class='facts-content'>On Erev Purim, the obligation of reading the Megillat Esther, a scroll that narrates the full story of Purim, commences, this reading is then reiterated on Purim Day. </p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Erev Purim involves an important fast, Ta'anit Esther</h3><p class='facts-content'>A significant tradition of Erev Purim is Ta'anit Esther or The Fast of Esther, practiced to commemorate the fast that Queen Esther and the Jewish people undertook before she approached King Ahasuerus to plead for her people.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Holiday preparations peak on Erev Purim</h3><p class='facts-content'>Erev Purim sees a frenzy of preparation activities for the main Purim celebrations, including cooking for the festive meal, getting costumes ready, and packaging food gifts to be delivered on Purim day itself.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Matanot La'Evyonim tradition</h3><p class='facts-content'>One of the key Purim obligations that starts on Erev Purim is Matanot La'Evyonim, which involves giving charity to at least two less fortunate individuals, reflecting the holiday's spirit of care and generosity.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Shushan Purim occurs in some cities</h3><p class='facts-content'>In walled cities like Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated a day later, known as Shushan Purim, recalling that it took an extra day for the Jews of Shushan to rid themselves of their enemies. This unique shift in dates commences from Erev Purim.</p></div></div>
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