Last Updated on February 18, 2025 by Sarah McCubbin
As a Christian mom who loves Jewish culture and Biblical holidays, I always enjoy learning more about Jewish holidays with my kids and family including Purim.
It’s a time of joy, celebration, and remembering God’s faithfulness in the story of Queen Esther. If you’ve never celebrated Purim before, or you’re looking for new ways to make it extra special for your family this year, you’re in the right place!
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What Is Purim?
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the events in the Book of Esther, where a beautiful young Jewish woman named Queen Esther risked everything to save her people from the wicked Haman, the villain of the Purim story.
The history of Purim takes us back to ancient Persia, where the Jewish people were under the rule of King Ahasuerus (also known as King Achashverosh). The king had banished Queen Vashti and later chose Esther, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, as his new queen. Esther initially kept her Jewish identity a secret, following Mordecai’s advice.
Meanwhile, Haman, the prime minister of Persia, grew enraged when Mordecai refused to bow to him. In retaliation, he plotted to annihilate the Jewish people, convincing the king to issue a decree for their destruction. To determine the date of the massacre, Haman cast lots—called Purim in Persian—which is where the name of the holiday comes from.
At great personal risk, Esther courageously approached the king without being summoned—a crime punishable by death. She invited him and Haman to two feasts, where she revealed her true identity as a Jew and exposed Haman’s evil plan. The king, enraged, ordered Haman to be executed and granted the Jewish people the right to defend themselves. Instead of destruction, the Jewish people experienced the miracle of Purim, securing their survival.
To this day, Purim is celebrated with joy, remembering how Esther and Mordecai’s bravery led to salvation for their people.
Purim is often called the Feast of Lots, referring to the Persian word Purim, meaning “lots,” since Haman cast lots to decide the date of destruction. But God had other plans! That’s why Purim Jews celebrate with Purim spirit, joy, and lots of Purim fun!
How To Celebrate Purim With Your Family
Purim isn’t just a joyous holiday—it’s also one of the most fun! Here are some great ideas to make this Jewish holiday of Purim meaningful for your entire family, from young children to older siblings and even middle school and high school kids.
1. Read the Story of Purim
Start by reading the Purim Megillah (also called the Reading of the Scroll of Esther). If you have younger kids, try a kid-friendly version of the Purim story, like a Purim story mini book or an interactive retelling with different characters. PJ Library has some fantastic Purim bedtime stories featuring favorite PJ Library characters that younger children will love!
For older kids, dive deeper into the key plot points of the Megillah with a close reading activity or a lesson plan about the Jewish people of Persia and the biblical story of Esther.
2. Host a Purim Play or Costume Parade
Dressing up is a big part of the tradition of Purim! Kids (and adults!) love wearing Purim costumes and acting out the story of Esther in a Purim play or Purim shpiel (a fun, humorous retelling of the story). You can even organize a costume contest with different age groups!
3. Give Mishloach Manot (Purim Gift Baskets)
A unique Purim traditions is preparing and delivering mishloach manot—special gifts of food for friends and family. This is a great way to teach kids about good deeds and generosity. Traditional Purim treats include triangular cookies called hamantaschen (or oznei Haman, meaning Haman’s ears).
You can make your own with easy hamantaschen recipes, or get creative with alternate use ideas for household items—like crafting a Purim-themed paper basket for your gift baskets. Don’t forget to include some poppy seeds, which are symbolic in many Purim traditions!
4. Do Fun Purim Crafts and Activities
Keep little hands busy with fun Purim crafts! Try making Purim decorations, designing a printable pack, or creating Purim carnival stations with interactive games. Younger kids will love coloring pages featuring Queen Esther, Mordecai, and other different characters from the story.
Older kids can explore the graphic arts side of Purim by designing their own Purim medley of posters, masks, or even a Purim Pinterest board!
5. Enjoy a Festive Meal (Purim Seudah)
Purim wouldn’t be complete without a festive meal! Plan a Purim table full of traditional and kid-friendly foods. If you want to add a little more Purim fun, organize a hamantaschen class graphing activity—have kids vote on their favorite flavors and create a graph!
6. Give to Charity
Purim is a time of joy, but it’s also about charitable donations also called Matanot L’evyonim . Encourage your kids to collect food or make small gifts to donate to a local food pantry. This teaches them the important message of caring for those in need.
7. Play Jewish Games and Interactive Activities
Make Purim extra exciting with Jewish games like Purim scavenger hunts or interactive Megillah reading—where kids shake craft stick groggers (noisemakers) every time they hear Haman’s name! You can also find PreK-12 resources for Jewish holidays, including activity pages, word searches, and even a complete Purim bundle with printable fun for all ages.
Celebrate Purim This Year!
No matter how you celebrate, the best parts of Purim come from sharing joy, laughter, and faith with family and friends. Whether you’re baking hamantaschen cookies, dressing up for a costume parade, or giving to others, make this Purim celebration one to remember.
Looking for more Purim ideas? Check out my Purim Unit Study, Purim children’s books, and other activities bundles to give your kids the best possible experience with this fun holiday!
Happy Purim!
Sarah McCubbin and her husband and 9 kids live in Ohio. She loves talking about all kinds of education topics and is passionate about helping families find the best education options in each season! Socially awkward growing up, she loves to help families teach life skills, social skills and leadership.
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