Festival facts: Purim

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By Louise Tellam — teacher and freelance writer.

Find out about the origin of Purim and how Jewish people remember the story of Esther

What is Purim?

This Jewish festival celebrates one of the most famous stories of the Jews escaping persecution in a foreign land. It honours the Jewess Esther, and her faith and actions that saved the Jews of Persia. It is celebrated every year, four weeks before Passover, on the day following the Fast of Esther, so the two are bound together. It is also called the Feast of Lots as the drawing of lots, known as purim, plays an important part in the story of Esther. This year Purim falls on 14 March.