CU2-19

2:19 **Title:** Purim – Mythical Origins, Modern analogs. Close the lesson. Share stories and add them to their Holiday Passports
 * Goals:** Students will review the story of Purim and learn some ideas about its origins.
 * Materials:**
 * 1.  **Gain the attention of the learner. Locate where Purim occurs in the Solar Calendar (near the Vernal Equinox) (Ask the students to describe how they would select a king and queen? The story of Purim, describes the escapades of a King who gets a queen through a beauty contest. The queen in turn becomes the person who rescues the Jews from persecution and destruction)
 * 2.  ****Review relevant past learning.** Rosh Hashanah-Sukkot are a form of New Year celebration relating to the Autumnal Equinox Purim may be derived from New Year celebrations relating to the Vernal (spring) Equinox.
 * 3.  ****Present new material.** According to Gaster, the story of Esther has no historical basis but harks back to a pagan New Year Festival that was made into a Jewish one. Pagan New Year festivals often have (a) the appointment of a new King or Queen [became the selection of Esther as Queen], (b) the parade of a commoner as king during the period between old and new years or between adjustment of solar and lunar calendars [became the parade of Mordechai dressed in kingly robes led around by Haman], (c) a fast as prelude to the new year symbolizing the eclipse of life which was believed to take place at the close of every annual cycle [became the fast of Esther], (d) the execution of a felon or misshapen person, a variation of the scapegoat ritual to remove evil and impurity before beginning the new year [became the hanging of Haman], (e) mock combat between rival parties to symbolize the struggle between winter and summer, rain and draught [became the “real” fight between the Jews and the Persians] and the distribution of gifts [became the giving of food]. The word Purim, itself, is related to an old Persian word for first as in First Day or First Season. Thus the origin of Purim may have occurred during the time when Persia ruled Israel and the Jews participated in the Persian celebration of the New Year. To remove the pagan aspects, the priests (rabbis?) may have invented the koshered version we celebrate as Purim. Centuries later, Purim took on some of the Carnival practices of the Christian holiday of Mardi Gras.
 * 4.  ****Provide guided practice.** One of the myths in the story of Purim is the heroic stance Esther took. Who are today’s heroes? What qualities do your students think someone would need to take a stand against someone or some group trying to oppress another group?
 * 5.  ****Provide independent practice.** Divide the class into teams and ask each team to write a tale about an heroic figure that took a stand to help her/his people from being persecuted. Use some elements from the pagan New Year celebrations: selecting royalty, parade of a commoner as king, a fast or a great feast, and a contest.