Purim Drive-In and more celebrations in the Triangle

VERY abridged synopsis of the story of Purim

In the story of Purim, the most important characters are King Ahasuerus, Esther, Mordecai and Haman.

The king marries Esther, who keeps her Jewish identity a secret. Her uncle Mordecai discovers a plot by two palace guards to kill the king. The guards are apprehended and hanged, and Mordecai’s service is recorded in the court’s records.

The king appoints Haman as his viceroy. Haman likes power. Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman, angering him. So Haman plans to have Mordecai killed, and, finding out that he’s Jewish, plans to kill all the Jews in the empire as well. He gets the go-ahead from Ahasuerus.

Mordecai finds out and convinces Esther to tell the king that she’s Jewish. She does so at a banquet, revealing that Haman is planning to kill all the Jews, which includes her. Ahasuerus is enraged and instead orders Haman to be hanged.

Historians differ on the historical basis of the story, but we’ll focus on the culture and traditions.

Reading the story

At gatherings, members of the community or religious leaders recite the Book of Esther from the scroll called the Megillah. Have you heard the phrase “The whole Megillah?”

During the reading, every time the name Haman is spoken, the listeners yell “Booo!” and shake noise-makers (called “groggers”) to drown out his name.

Food gifts and charity

It’s traditional to give food gifts, called “mishloach manot,” to others. Sometimes people put together many baskets of sweets, snacks and other food to give out.

It’s also traditional to give money to charities that help people in need.

Traditional foods

The most well known food associated with Purim is the hamantaschen. A hamantaschen is a sweet pastry, rolled out, filled with poppy seed, fruit, or other filling, and then folded into a triangle. The shape of the pastry is often said to represent the three-cornered hat that tradition has Haman wearing.

Kreplach, a dumpling filled with cooked meat, and served in soup, is also frequently enjoyed during Purim.

Costumes

There’s a long tradition of masquerading on Purim. At some Megillah readings, both children and adults dress in costume. At Purim carnivals, children dress in costume and play carnival games. 

Traditionally children dress as characters from the story. You’ll see a lot of Esthers and Mordecais in particular. But, really, anything goes. In many communities, Purim is similar to Halloween — a really fun time for kids (and adults) to show their creativity and personality through their costumes.

Purim Spiel

A Purim spiel is a comical skit that can be a retelling of the Purim story, but also might not be. Today they revolve around anything that relate to Judaism at all, and include satire, music, and lots of silliness.

Celebrate Purim in the Triangle

Purim Drive-In
Thursday, February 25th, 2021
4:30 p.m.
Levin JCC, 1937 W Cornwallis Road, Durham
Free, but registration is required

Jewish for Good and Chabad of Durham/Chapel Hill are sharing Purim in-person in a Covid-safe way, a drive-in. There will be a drum circle, Megillah reading, Hamantash baking, Mishloach Manot for every child, music, and a masquerade with fun prizes.

Drive-Thru Purim Parade
Sunday, February 21st, 2021
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Raleigh-Cary JCC, 12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh
Free, but registration is required

Everyone is welcome! Come and show your best costume. Everyone who drives through gets a Purim treat. Donate some change as you drive through to help send a child to Camp JCC!

Chabad Young Professionals Purim Sports Bash
Thursday, February 25th, 2021
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Private backyard (address will be provided when you RSVP — follow the above link)
$15Sign up for a one hour time slot. Masks and social distancing are required. Chabad Young Professionals is a vibrant network of young Jewish people in Raleigh. They play dynamic social events, career-focused professional functions, educational experiences, spiritual gatherings and more. the Purim Sports Bash will feature food and specialty sports bar drinks, a Megillah reading, and Shaloch Manos (aka Mishloach Manot) to bring home. 

 

Chabad Young Professionals Purim Breakfast
Friday, February 26th, 2021
7:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Private backyard (address will be provided when you RSVP — follow the above link)
$8Sign up for a one hour time slot. Masks and social distancing are required. Enjoy fresh pastries, bagels and lox and all the fixings. Grab a Shaloch Manos to bring home.

Glow in the Dark “Red Carpet” Purim Masquerade
Thursday, February 25th, 2021
6 p.m.
Parking lot of Chabad Center of Raleigh, 7400 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh
Free, but registration is required by February 22ndJoin from in or next to your car for a safe celebration, geared toward families with children. There will be a Red Carpet Purim Masquerade, Megillah reading, individually packaged snacks, LED and Fire juggler. 

Double-Check Before You Head Out!

We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.

However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake. In addition, we can not guarantee that all events adhere to the safety measures that are necessary at this time, so we encourage you to ask any questions of the organizer, to make your best decision, and to stay safe.

Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.

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