The festival of Purim is recorded in the Holy Bible in the book of Esther. It is celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of the last month of the Hebrew calendar called Adar. The month of Adar occurs sometime in late February and early March of the Gregorian or present day calendar. The name Purim comes from the act of casting a pur (aka casting a lot) to determine the day of extermination against the Israelites which were held in bondage in Persia under King Ahausuerus (Xerxes I).