Persia Yemen CairoLithuaniaMinskPoland

Since Haman met his nasty fate on a tree in old Persia, Jews have celebrated Purim with an infectious enthusiasm. In different parts of the world, Jews created their own customs to celebrate/praise/salute the victory of the forces of Good over Evil. Many communities even celebrated their own "Purims" to commemorate salvations from evil decrees, or attempted persecutions or massacres.

Persia
Each year, one of the wealthy men in the community would host a huge Purim feast in his home for the whole congregation. In the courtyard a large and ridiculous Haman effigy would be hung on a pole. During the meal, all would march out to watch the effigy being burned, while shouting, "May the memory of Amalek be erased!" As the fire went out, the children took turns jumping over the coals, just as they did during celebrations in Talmudic times.

Then all would return to the meal to eat with renewed appetite.

Yemen
The privilege of reading the Megilla was given to the one who purchased oil and wax to light the synagogue. Generally, a bridegroom would be the purchaser. When there were more than one bridegroom, they would fight for the privilege stating: "I will bring the oil and wax," while the other also proclaimed, "No, I will bring the oil and wax." They would have to refer to the Beit Din (Court of Justice) which ruled that the honor would be auctioned and given to the highest bidder.

On the day of Purim, a lame horse would pull a cart with a Haman figure inside. Everyone would sing a song called, "Here comes Haman on a lame horse!" as the pathetic figure moved through the Jewish quarter.

Cairo
All day, the revelers took to the streets in costume, old and young alike. Few had cars, so most went about on donkeys, who were dyed in stripes and patterns, or wore other costumes.

In the synagogue, every person is given a candle to light which they hold during the reading of the Megilla. Beggars take advantage of the community's congregation in one place to go collecting, and few refuse to pay them "Baksheesh"(gratuities).

Lithuania
After the Purim meal, everyone would crowd into the home of the Rosh HaYeshiva (dean of the yeshiva) to see the yeshiva students perform their play. The yeshiva students were the heroes of the day. Their winter semester ended on Purim, and needless to say, they were all in high spirits.

One of the students was elected the Purim Rabbi. He would don the clothing of the Rosh HaYeshiva, a long silk coat, with a fur-edged cap, and give the shiur (lesson) of the day, while the real Rosh HaYeshiva would sit with the students. In sharp and sophisticated witticisms, the Purim Rabbi would weave ridicululous pilpulim (logical dissertations) - but instead of using the Talmudic debates as a topic, he made a burlesque of the daily life of the yeshiva students. The rabbis were goodnaturedly ribbed, the students mocked their own foibles, the town personalities also got a good workover.

The Rosh Yeshiva, when asked what he thought of the Talmud lesson, had to smile and admit, "I am vanquished, my son, vanquished. . ."

Minsk, White Russia
To drown out the name of Haman during the reading of the Megilla, noisemakers of every kind were made, with great ingenuity. In one, a hammer was fixed to an anvil, to strike at every mention of Haman. A large stone rigged to ropes, was released with a loud thud. Some noisemakers were big as a table! When they were set off, you were sure it was an earthquake! A tinsmith and his two sons made a noisemaker with tin balls rolling from chamber to chamber, jingling and jangling.

Others showed their creativity in their voices, and during the Megilla reading growled like bear, roared like lions, barked like dogs, and bleated like goats - all to block out the son of Hammedatha - Haman the Evil.

Poland
The Ba'al Habayis (Householder) would receive the callers with a friendly eye and a good word. The poor came, and the sons of the other householders who collected for some unfortunate. No one was sent away empty-handed.

His wife was busy with the visitors who carried trays of dainties sent by relatives and friends. Boys and girls, maids and yeshiva students were the messengers bearing the plates covered with white kerchiefs. Inside were all kinds of sweets - honey cakes, cookies figures with strange decorations and the names Vashti, Zeresh, and Queen Esther written on them in sugar and honey-of-the-comb. Almonds, dry plums, and nuts would round off the platters.