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from: http://www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/
jholidays-purim-01.htm |
Today is the Jewish holiday Purim. In the biblical book of Esther, the enemy of the Jews, Haman, used lots (in Hebrew, "purim") to select the day--13 Adar--when the Jews would be exterminated. Read the story to see how he and his plans were thwarted. The next day, 14 Adar, became the day to celebrate Jewish deliverance. On the holiday, the book of Esther (called the Megillah) is read; people listening to the story make noise, boo, hiss, and shout whenever Haman's name is said. Drinking, costumes, merriment, and giving to the poor are important parts of the celebration. The Judaism 101 site gives good information about the day:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm
Today is also Magha Puja, a Buddhist festival that falls on the full moon of the sixth lunar month. It is celebrated in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. The day commemorates the occasion when 1250 enlightened monks assembled spontaneously to pay respect to the Buddha, who preached to them. It is a day to honor Shakyamuni Buddha and to do meritorious works.
This site provides more details.
(From the 2015 Interfaith Calendar of the Diversity Awareness Partnership of St. Louis---see dapstl.org for more information---and various online sources.)
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