Purim in Canada
Quick Facts
Purim commemorates a time when Jewish people were saved from death around the fourth century BCE, according to the Book of Esther.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Purim | English |
| Pourim | French |
Purim 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009Purim 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
See list of observations below
Purim marks the Jewish people’s deliverance from a royal death decree around the fourth century BCE, as told in the Book of Esther. Esther was a queen who helped stop plans to kill Jewish people.
Many Jewish people in Canada celebrate Purim on the 14th day of the month of Adar in the Jewish calendar, which is in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. According to many sources, the celebrations begin at around sunset on the 13th day of Adar, while other sources mention that Purim is observed on the 15th day of Adar.
Gift giving is a popular actitivity among Jewish Canadians during Purim. ©iStockphoto.com/Howard Sandler
What do people do?
Purim is a Jewish festival that celebrates survival in a foreign land or in exile. Many Jewish Canadians, especially children, listen to the Megilla (or Megillah). When the story of Esther is read out loud, graggers (or groggers), which are Purim noisemakers, are used to drown out the name of the villain in the story. This man, named Haman, planned to kill the Jewish people in ancient Persia. Queen Esther worked together with her cousin Mordecai to stop Haman’s plans.
Purim is a happy holiday in the Jewish calendar and is associated with costumes, hilarity, food, and fun. Many Jewish Canadians remember the dangers that their ancestors faced in exile and they celebrate the miracle of their existence every Purim. Purim gift baskets are exchanged on this occasion. These baskets are often filled with hamantashen, different types of candy, or cookies. Hamantaschen is a Purim cookie named for the three-cornered hat that Haman wore – popular/favorite. Many Jewish people also donate to charity around this time of the year.
Public life
Purim is not a public holiday in Canada so public offices, schools, many businesses, and transport systems remain open or operational.
Background
According to the Royal Ontario Museum, about 196,000 Jewish immigrants came to Canada between 1880 and 1930. The founders of the Toronto and Montreal Jewish communities came from other parts of the British empire prior to this immigration period. The first Jewish immigrants arrived after the British empire possessed New France following the 1763 Paris Treaty that ended the Seven Years’ War.
Canada’s first synagogue was built in 1768. Purim has been celebrated in Canada since the nation’s first Jewish congregation was established in Montreal. Even though the story of Esther is old, the moral of this story is still very significant. One of the hallmarks of this Jewish holiday is that Purim is not rooted in the land of Israel, but in the Diaspora experience – the experience of Jewish people living outside of Israel.
Note: Timeanddate.com wishes to thank the Ontario Royal Museum for background information about Purim and Jewish Canadians.
About Purim in other countries
Read more about Purim.Purim Observances
Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Mar 2 | 1980 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Mar 20 | 1981 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 9 | 1982 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Feb 27 | 1983 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 18 | 1984 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 7 | 1985 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 25 | 1986 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 15 | 1987 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 3 | 1988 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 21 | 1989 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 11 | 1990 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Feb 28 | 1991 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 19 | 1992 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 7 | 1993 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Feb 25 | 1994 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 16 | 1995 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 5 | 1996 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 23 | 1997 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 12 | 1998 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 2 | 1999 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 21 | 2000 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Mar 9 | 2001 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Feb 26 | 2002 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 18 | 2003 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 7 | 2004 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Mar 25 | 2005 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 14 | 2006 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 4 | 2007 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Mar 21 | 2008 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Mar 10 | 2009 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Feb 28 | 2010 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 20 | 2011 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 8 | 2012 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Feb 24 | 2013 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Mar 16 | 2014 | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Mar 5 | 2015 | Purim | Jewish holiday |
Other holidays in March 2009 in Canada
- St David's Day (Sunday, March 1, 2009)
- Daylight Saving Time starts (Sunday, March 8, 2009)
- Commonwealth Day (Monday, March 9, 2009)
- Prophet's Birthday (Monday, March 9, 2009)
- St. Patrick's Day (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)
- St. Patrick's Day (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)
- Vernal equinox (Friday, March 20, 2009)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
