Purim 2027: Dates, the Story of Esther, and How to Celebrate

Updated November 2026 with the Purim 2027 and 2028 dates.

Costumes, cookies, noisemakers and a story with a twist ending. Purim is the most raucous day on the Jewish calendar. Here's what it is, when it falls in 2027, and how to celebrate it at home.

Purim is a minor holiday in one sense: there's no rule against working, driving or using your phone. But it packs a lot into one day. To see where it sits in the rest of the year, check our Jewish holidays calendar.

When Is Purim 2027?

Purim falls on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. Like every Jewish holiday, it starts at sundown the evening before. In a Jewish leap year, when the calendar adds a second month of Adar, Purim moves to Adar II. The Hebrew year 5787 is a leap year, which is why Purim 2027 lands late in March.

A few notes on the table:

• The Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Esther) is normally the day before Purim, the 13th of Adar. In 2028 that date is a Saturday, and fasts aren't held on Shabbat (except Yom Kippur), so the fast moves back to Thursday.
• Shushan Purim is the day after Purim. Cities that were walled in ancient times, most famously Jerusalem, celebrate on the 15th instead of the 14th, because the Megillah says the Jews of Shushan, the Persian capital, celebrated a day later.
• Purim Katan ("little Purim") shows up in leap years on the 14th of Adar I. In 2027 that's Sunday, February 21. There are no special mitzvot; some people mark it with a slightly nicer meal.

What Is Purim?

Purim marks the rescue of the Jewish community of ancient Persia, as told in the biblical Book of Esther. The word purim means "lots," as in drawing lots. The villain, Haman, cast lots to pick the day he would destroy the Jews. That day was supposed to be the 13th of Adar. Instead it became the day the Jews defended themselves, and the next day became a holiday.

The big theme is reversal. The Megillah uses the phrase v'nahafoch hu, "it was turned upside down." The man who planned the gallows ends up on it. The orphan girl becomes queen. That upside-down spirit is why Purim feels like a carnival.

The Purim Story: Esther in a Nutshell

Here's the short version of "the whole Megillah." (Yes, that's where the phrase comes from.)

• A party and a missing queen. King Achashverosh (Ahasuerus) of Persia throws a huge feast and orders Queen Vashti to appear before his guests. She refuses, and he removes her as queen.
• A beauty contest. The king searches the empire for a new queen and chooses Esther, a young Jewish woman raised by her cousin Mordecai. On Mordecai's advice, she doesn't tell anyone she's Jewish.
• A plot overheard. Mordecai uncovers a plan by two guards to kill the king. He reports it, and it's written in the royal records, but he gets no reward. Yet.
• Haman's grudge. The king promotes Haman to chief minister and everyone must bow to him. Mordecai refuses. Furious, Haman gets the king's permission to destroy all the Jews of the empire on a date chosen by lot.
• Esther's choice. Mordecai urges Esther to plead with the king, even though appearing unsummoned could cost her life. She asks the Jews of Shushan to fast for three days with her (that's the origin of the Fast of Esther), then goes to the king.
• The turnaround. At a pair of banquets, Esther reveals that she's Jewish and that Haman wants her people dead. Haman is hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai. Mordecai is promoted, and the Jews are allowed to defend themselves.

One fun fact: God's name never appears in the Book of Esther. Many teachers read that as the point. The miracle is hidden inside events that look like coincidence.

How Is Purim Celebrated? The Four Mitzvot

Traditional Jewish law lists four Purim mitzvot (commandments), all done on Purim itself:

All four come straight from the Megillah, which tells the Jews to make these days "days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor." Costumes and hamantaschen aren't on the list, but try telling that to a five-year-old.

Matanot la'evyonim deserves a moment. Many people give money through a synagogue or a charity that hands it out on Purim day, so it reaches people in time to enjoy the holiday. If you have kids, a tzedakah box on the counter in the weeks before Purim is an easy way to get them saving coins for it.

About the drinking: the Talmud says one should drink on Purim until you can't tell "cursed is Haman" from "blessed is Mordecai." Rabbis have argued about how literally to take that for centuries. Plenty of people drink a little or not at all, and some fulfill it by taking a nap. If you do drink, be safe and keep it to the adults.

The Megillah Reading and Graggers

The Megillah is read twice: once on Purim night and again on Purim morning. In 2027, the evening reading is Monday night, March 22, right after the Fast of Esther ends. Most synagogues read from a handwritten parchment scroll, and you're supposed to hear every word.

Except one. Every time the reader says Haman, the room erupts. Kids (and grown-ups) shake noisemakers, stamp their feet and boo to blot out his name. The noisemaker is called a gragger or grogger (from Yiddish), or a ra'ashan in Hebrew. The classic version is a wooden ratchet you spin, but anything loud works.

Want to make one? A DIY grogger is a great kids' craft: fill a clean plastic bottle, a sealed paper cup pair or an empty container with dried beans, rice or pasta, tape it shut well, and decorate. Just be ready for a lot of noise.

Mishloach Manot: Purim Gift Baskets

Mishloach manot (also called shalach manos) means "sending portions." The basic rule is simple: give at least one person a package with at least two different foods that are ready to eat. Many people send lots of them, to friends, neighbors and teachers. The idea is friendship, and making sure everyone has something good for the Purim feast.

A few easy ways to put one together:

• Keep it to two. A few hamantaschen and a piece of fruit counts. So does a drink and a snack.
• Theme it. Pick a color, a pun or a costume tie-in. Some families match their mishloach manot to their costumes.
• Add a tag. These hamantaschen wood gift tags come in a set of six natural wood tags shaped like the cookie, and they tie onto a bag or a wine bottle.
• Include something special. Our Purim food collection has gift-ready treats, like a Seed + Mill halva trio (vegan, gluten-free, kosher and made in Israel) and Jewish slang marzipan fortune cookies, with a different Jewish slang word tucked inside each of the eight cookies.

Traditionally, mishloach manot are delivered on Purim day. If you're shipping a gift, order early so it shows up in time.

Purim Costumes: Why We Dress Up

Dressing up isn't one of the four mitzvot, but it's a beloved custom, and there are a few explanations for it. Esther hid who she was. God is hidden in the story. And on a day when everything was "turned upside down," wearing a disguise fits right in. However you explain it, it's fun.

Classic Purim costume ideas:

• Queen Esther: a crown, a robe and some confidence.
• Mordecai: a robe and a royal cloak, since the king had him paraded through the city on the royal horse.
• King Achashverosh: a big crown and a scepter.
• Queen Vashti: an increasingly popular pick for the queen who said no.
• A hamantaschen: a felt or cardboard triangle with a "filling" circle in the middle. Easy to make, and very cute on babies.

Plenty of costumes have nothing to do with the story, and that's fine too. For anyone who would rather not wear a crown, there's our costume collection: a Purim costume tee in adult sizes XS to 4XL, a youth version in kids S to XL, and a baby onesie in 3 to 18 months. They're made to order, so allow one to two weeks for delivery.

Hamantaschen and Other Purim Foods

Hamantaschen are the triangle-shaped cookies of Purim: a soft dough folded around a filling. In Yiddish the name means "Haman's pockets." In Hebrew they're called oznei Haman, "Haman's ears." Many people say the three corners are Haman's hat. Others connect the name to mohn, the Yiddish word for poppy seed, one of the classic fillings.

Traditional fillings include poppy seed, prune (lekvar) and apricot. These days, anything goes: chocolate, jam, Nutella, even savory fillings. For recipes, head to Amy's food blog, What Jew Wanna Eat, which has a whole roundup of sweet and savory hamantaschen plus more Purim recipes.

The Purim seudah (feast) usually starts in the afternoon of Purim day and can run into the evening. There's no fixed menu. Some families have a custom of eating seeds, nuts and beans, recalling a tradition that Esther ate that way in the palace to keep kosher. Others go for a big, joyful dinner with family and friends.

Purim Decorations and Party Ideas

You don't need much to make the house feel like Purim. Masks, crowns and bright colors carry the theme. A few ideas:

• Balloons. These Happy Purim letter balloons are multicolor foil letters, each 16 inches tall, and they make an instant photo backdrop for costumes.
• A festive table. The All the Jewish Holidays table runner is 100% cotton, handmade in the USA, and works for Purim, Passover and everything in between.
• A mishloach manot station. Set out bags, treats and tags and let guests pack baskets to take home.
• A costume parade. Give silly awards: best Esther, most creative, best homemade.
• A Purim shpiel. Hand out parts and act out the story as a funny play. Everyone boos Haman.

Browse our full Purim supplies collection for more party and gift ideas. If you want more inspiration, we also have five fun ways to celebrate Purim.

Purim for Kids

Purim might be the most kid-friendly Jewish holiday. There are costumes, noise, candy, a villain to boo and a heroine to cheer. Many synagogues, Jewish schools and JCCs hold Purim carnivals with games and prizes. At home, try:

• Reading the story together. Ten Purim Bears is a counting board book for babies and toddlers with costumed bears. For older kids, The Queen Who Saved Her People tells the Purim story in rhyme, with color-coded dialogue that's made for acting out.
• Learning the holidays. The Jewish Holiday Book from Pockets of Learning has sturdy cloth pages with embroidery and covers Purim along with eight other holidays.
• Crafting. Make groggers and masks, or try the Purim plaster painting set, which comes with two plaster pieces, five paint colors and a brush.
• Baking. Hamantaschen are a perfect first baking project. Kids love choosing fillings and pinching corners.
• Giving. Let kids help pack and deliver mishloach manot and pick where their tzedakah goes.

Find more books in our Jewish books collection and more ideas in Jewish gifts for kids.

Purim FAQ

When is Purim 2027?

Purim 2027 begins at sundown on Monday, March 22, 2027, and Purim day is Tuesday, March 23 (14 Adar II 5787). Shushan Purim, celebrated in Jerusalem, is Wednesday, March 24. In 2028, Purim begins at sundown on Saturday, March 11, and Purim day is Sunday, March 12.

What is Purim?

Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates how Queen Esther and Mordecai saved the Jews of ancient Persia from Haman's plot, as told in the Book of Esther. It's celebrated with the Megillah reading, gifts of food, gifts to the poor, a festive meal and costumes.

Why do people dress up on Purim?

It's a custom, not a commandment. Common explanations are that Esther hid her identity, that God's hand is hidden in the story, and that the holiday celebrates everything being "turned upside down." And it's just plain fun.

What is a grogger?

A grogger (or gragger) is a noisemaker used during the Megillah reading. Every time Haman's name is read, people shake their groggers to drown it out.

What do you eat on Purim?

Hamantaschen, the triangle cookies filled with poppy seed, fruit, chocolate and more, are the best-known Purim food. There's also a festive meal on Purim afternoon, and some families eat seeds, nuts and beans in memory of Esther.

What is Shushan Purim?

Shushan Purim is the day after Purim, the 15th of Adar. Cities that were walled in ancient times, like Jerusalem, celebrate Purim on that day instead of the 14th.

Why is Purim so late in 2027?

The Hebrew year 5787 is a leap year, which adds a second month of Adar. Purim is celebrated in Adar II, so it falls about a month later on the regular calendar than in a non-leap year.

Do you work on Purim?

Work is allowed on Purim, and many people go to work or school as usual. Still, many try to free up time to hear the Megillah, deliver mishloach manot and enjoy the feast.

Chag Purim sameach!