Jewish communities celebrate Purim this weekend - this is the story behind the holiday and how it's marked

Tonight will mark the start of the Jewish holiday Purim, and will see members of the Jewish community gather at synagogues across Greater Manchester and the rest of the country.

In the Jewish calendar, Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of the month on Adar, which typically falls in either February or March. This year the holiday starts on Saturday evening (March 23) after the Sabbath and lasts until sunset the following day.

Purim is a very special occasion within the Jewish community as it gives time to remember the survival and salvation of the community after a sinister plot more than 2,000 years ago.

We've broken down the story behind Purim and why the Jewish community celebrates the day each year.

The history of Purim can be found in the Book of Esther, often referred to as the Megillah, in the Hebrew Bible. It tells the story of Haman, a chief political figure under the reign of the Persian king Ahasuerus in the 5th century BCE.

Haman held disdain for the Jewish community under the Persian rule and attempted to convince the king that they were rebellious and should be killed. The date for this mass execution was the 13th day of Adar, which Haman chose by drawing lots. One of those marked for death was Mordecai, the adopted father of the Jewish queen Esther who refused to bow to Haman.

The king later came upon Haman begging for mercy from the queen, which he mistook as an attack. Because of this the king ordered Haman's execution and Mordecai to take his place as chief advisor to the king, resulting in the Jewish community gaining royal permission to attack their enemies.

Following the victory, the Jewish people declared the following day to be a holiday, known as Purim.

Jewish communities often gather in