Even though the holiday of Purim is not one of the God-ordained holy days as commanded by God to Moses, it is observed by Jews today on the 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March. The 13th of Adar is the day that Haman chose for the extermination of the Jews, and the day that the Jews battled their enemies for their lives. 

On the day afterwards, the 14th, they celebrated their survival. In cities that were walled in the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, because the book of Esther says that in Shushan (a walled city), deliverance from the massacre was not complete until the next day, the 15th.

The Purim holiday is preceded by a minor fast, the Fast of Esther, which commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with the king. 

Those who celebrate Purim send out gifts of food or drink, and make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as shalach manos (lit. sending out portions). 

It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests. 

Throughout the book of Esther we can see God’s fingerprints in the form of “coincidences” or chances.  Interestingly the word Purim comes from the Persian word “pur” and means lot.  Thus, the festival of Purim derives its name from the lots cast by Haman. For this is not some incidental detail in the story of Purim, but an event that expresses one of the themes in the story of Esther and the holiday of Purim. 

Though God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, the supernatural plot twists of the book demonstrate that He is in control of events from beginning to end.  Mordecai told Esther that if she keeps silent, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place. Thus, one important message that can be gained from the story is that God often works in ways that are not apparent, in ways that appear to be chance or coincidence.

God is not mentioned in the book of Esther.  Likewise Satan is not mentioned. But you can see their impact; God in His opportunities for the people to make the right choice, Satan in his opportunities for the people to make the wrong choice. They all had choices to make.  We continually have choices to make.  God orchestrates opportunities for us to make choices such as Esther did.  Now we probably won’t be asked to go before a king at the risk of death.  We may not be asked to save thousands of Jewish people.  What might be our opportunities “for such a time as this”?  Just as Mordecai said, God’s will WILL be done in these opportunities.  Why wouldn’t we want the blessings of making the right choice?