Purim Characters
The Whole Megillah
Purim Traditions
Purim Food
Hebrew
100
The purim antagonist, this bad guy hatched a nefarious plot to kill all the Jews in Persia.
Who is Haman?
100
Mordechai was either Esther's uncle or this other relation - the text isn't clear.
What is cousin?
100
Purim takes place during this festive month on the Jewish calendar.
What is Adar?
100
This three-cornered cookie is the most common Purim treat.
What is a hamentashen?
100
Borrowed from Yiddish, a Purim play is often called this.
What is a shpiel?
200
Now often honored as a symbol of women's rights, this queen was deposed when she refused to obey a humiliating command from her husband.
Who is Vashti?
200
The Purim story takes places in Shusan, which is thought to be located in this present-day Persian country.
What is Iran?
200
Kids and adults alike love shaking this noisemaker to drown out the name of the bad guy.
What is a gragger?
200
In Hebrew, the three-cornered Purim treat is called oznei haman, refering to Haman's set of these.
What are ears?
200
The word Purim means this - it's how the bad guy chose the day of the Jews' execution.
What is lottery/lots?
300
This character is thought to represent Xerxes 1.
Who is Achashverosh/Ahashueres?
300
These are the names of the two guards Mordechai overheard plotting to kill the king.
What are Bigtan and Teresh?
300
Often filled with treats, these are the baskets Jewish people give to friends and family on Purim.
What are mishloach manot?
300
The tashen part of the Purim cookie is Yiddish for these, often found in clothing.
What are pockets?
300
Hebrew for the word Jews, which appears several times in the Purim story.
What is yehudim?
400
We call her Esther, but this just "hides" her real name, which is this.
What is Hadassah?
400
At the end of the story, it's not just Haman that ends up on the gallows - it's also his wife plus their sons, who numbered this many.
What is ten?
400
Called matanot le'evyonim, these Purim gifts are specifically meant for this type of person.
What are the poor/needy?
400
A paste made of these are a common filling for Purim treats - just don't eat too many before a drug test!
What are poppyseeds?
400
The Jews' rescue was said to be a miracle - or this, in Hebrew.
What is a nes?
500
Haman didn't act alone - he was encouraged and bolstered by his wife, who went by this name.
What is Zeresh?
500
Before auditioning for the role of the new queen, candidates spent this long preparing.
What is twelve months/one year?
500
The Hebrew name of the scroll read on Purim, which is often beautifully illustrated.
What is Megillat Esther?
500
According to a 2020 survey by kosher.com, this ranked as the most favorite filling.
What is apricot?
500
In a popular Purim song, you can hear the Hebrew word for the traditional noisemakers: rash, rash, rash on these.
What are rashanim?