Purim!

Haman Recognizes His Fate by Rembrandt, painted between 1648 and 1655, and a sorry-ass piece of work if there ever was one.

Tonight we celebrate Purim, which runs until tomorrow night. Haman planned to kill all the Jews in Persia because Mordecai refused to bow to him, the king's new wife Esther asks Haman and the king to a banquet, she tells the king she is Jewish, Haman gets hung from a 50 cubit gallows that was meant for Mordecai, Mordecai gets the prime minister job formerly held by Haman, then the Jews in Persia preempt their enemies and kill 75,000 of them. Haman had cast lots, purim, to determine the date of the slaughter. Purim is celebrated by the reading of the book of Esther, the Megillah, all of it, therefore the Whole Megillah, with a festive meal, alms for the poor, and food gifts to friends. Costumes are worn. The name of God is not specifically mentioned in the book of Esther, but he's there all right!

When Haman's name is read out loud during the public chanting of the Megillah in the synagogue, which occurs 54 times, the congregation engages in noise-making to blot out his name.

We Methodists never had such fun in our lives, our idea of salvation is keeping the lawn neat and wearing Izod shirts.

Mordecai not bowing to Haman, Paul Alexander Leroy, 1884.

  'And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus'.

(Esther 3:5-7)

 Esther does her thing.

For the Jews who were in Shushan also gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay their hand on the plunder. But the other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy five thousand, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. (Esther 9:15-16)

Hamantaschen (Haman's pockets) cookies.  Your filling of choice, this looks like blackberry.  Oi!