Mischloach Manot
On Purim , Jews send edible gifts called mischloach manot , also known as Schlachmones , to friends. They classically consist of two servings, a pastry and one made from fruit . Even Haman -Figürchen from Ingwerteig and Hamantaschen ( Sephardic = Hamanohren ) will be given away. Originally, magnificent containers were used for this purpose, today one uses boxes or bags that were specially made or bought for this purpose.
The Yiddish word Schlachmones comes from the Hebrew "משלוח מנות" and literally means something like "send portions". As a rule, the children are the messengers for the Schlachmones. In Israel , slaughter mones are also sent to the soldiers of the Israeli army .
background
The custom is based on the following passage from the Book of Esther :
“Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened. He sent letters to all Jews in all the provinces of King Artaxerxes near and far, making it their duty to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as a feast day each year. These are the days when the Jews had rest again from their enemies; it is the month when her grief turned into joy and her sadness turned into happiness. They should celebrate them as feast days with food and drink and gifts to one another, and they should also give gifts to the poor. ”- Esther, 9: 20-22