Purim, but then, I kind of like it. Cookies and good times. It's a celebration sort of. A Persian official close to the king created a law to make it legal to kill all the Jews on a certain day. It was to be like a purge. The king was married to Esther who was secretly Jewish and had an uncle serving in the court. There had recently been an attempted coup and assassination scheme by some court insiders who were exposed by Esther's Uncle about this same time. Her Uncle was rewarded and this court official was forced to honor the uncle. He was seething with rage and that was his motivation. Kill all the Jews to avenge his humiliation by this one low ranking Jewish court servant. Esther found out about this law to purge the kingdom of Jews after the king signed it and had it posted everywhere. He had no idea who the Jews were and really just kind of rubber stamped it on the advice of this vengeful official. Esther set up a dinner with the king and invited this official, Haman to the dinner. Haman was thrilled and attended happily. Esther couldn't get the courage to reveal what she knew so invited the king to another dinner where she revealed the plot to exterminate her people and that she herself was a Jew and would also be killed. The king was outraged at the trickery and demanded who had written this law he had ignorantly signed. She pointed her finger at "This wicked Haman" and the king was so outraged he left the room in a rage to think things over. Meanwhile Haman realizing his mistake threw himself on Esther as she sat down and begged for his life in terror. The king reentered and seeing Haman on top of Esther became further outraged and called his guards to remove the man. The king turned to Esther and asked what should be done, and she pointed out the window where Haman had constructed a gallows and demanded that Haman be hanged on his own construction. The King agreed but then asked what remedy could be had for the law of extermination of all the Jews in his kingdom as by law he could not reverse the law. Esther suggested a law of reprisal that allowed all the Jews of the kingdom to do likewise to any who would attack them and so the king had it written up and signed to be posted all around the kingdom. On that day the Jews all around the kingdom took up arms and purged those who would purge them taking their land, houses, possessions and then they celebrated. Since the story of Esther is repeated every year at these celebrations it's not likely to ever be forgotten.