The Story of Purim in a Nutshell
In the third year of his reign, the King of Persia, Ahashverosh (also known as Ahashuerus) summoned his queen, Vashti, to appear before him at a feast and demonstrate her beauty for the King's officials. Vashti refused to appear. Incensed, the King had Vashti killed.
When the King desired a new queen, he held a contest among all the eligible maidens in the kingdom. One of those was Esther, a Jewish girl, who had been raised by Mordechai, her uncle. Mordechai instructed Esther not to divulge her Jewishness when she went to meet the king. Meanwhile, Mordecai, while sitting near the palace gate overheard a plot to assassinate the king. He immediately told Esther, who had become queen, and she reported it to the King in the name of Mordecai.
Years later the King appointed Haman, a descendant of Amelak, the traditional enemy of the Jews, to the position of chief advisor. Haman was a wicked and vain man who expected everyone to bow down to him. Mordechai refused to bow because Jews are to bow only before G-D. Not content to just punish Mordechai, Haman wanted to destroy the entire Jewish people in Persia. He cast lots or PURIM to determine the day of annihilation.
Haman went to the King, slandered the Jews, and convinced the King to go along with his plans. Upon learning of the plot, Mordechai recounted the details of the evil decree and instructed Esther to intercede on the Jews behalf. Esther agreed to appear before the King unannounced even though anyone who came to the King uninvited risked losing their life. She, therefore, instructed Mordechai to organize a three-day fast for all the Jews on her behalf.
Esther asks the King to arrange a banquet which he grants her. At this feast, Esther reveals the fact that she is Jewish. She also informs the King of Haman�s villainous plot. She asked the King to "grant me my soul and my people.
Also, that night, the King discovered that Mordechai had never been rewarded for saving him from the assassination plot of two servants. Ahashverosh instructed Haman to dress Mordecai in royal clothing. Haman led Mordecai around the city on a fine horse.
Ahashverosh consumed with anger ordered that Haman be hanged on the gallows intended for Mordechai. On the thirteenth and fourteenth of Adar the Jews won tremendous victories and were saved from the threat of total annihilation.
Ever since, Jews have observed Purim. The day before Purim is a day of fasting, in memory of Esther's fast. The fast is then followed by two days of dancing, merrymaking, feasting and gladness where Jews celebrate by telling this story, drinking, giving gifts to the poor, and food to each other.