I learn something new every day.
I thought Purim was a hand sanitizer.
Haman hated the Jews, wanted them all dead. Especially Mordechai, who refused to bow to him. So he made a deal with the Persian king Ahasuerus that if he paid Ahasuerus an enormous amount of silver currency, Ahasuerus would allow him to annihilate all the Jews in the huge kingdom of ancient Persia. Haman drew lots (Persian word is "pur" for lot, the plural lots is "purim", hence the name of the holiday) to determine the most astrologically fit day for the slaughter.
Queen Esther, a Jew, heard of this plot and warned her uncle Mordechai, an elder statesman and pious Jew. He told her that it was now apparent that G-d placed her within the king's household as queen in order to save her people, and that she must stop the annihilation of all of Persia's Jews. She goes before the king unsummoned, which is a capital offense. She finds grace in his eyes, and he extends his scepter to her, making it OK to approach him without being put to death. She invites him and Haman to a banquet, at which she promises to reveal what she wants, why she risked death to approach his throne unsummoned.
At the banquet, she tells the king that someone is threatening her life and that of her people (he didn't know she was a Jew). He demands to know who would dare to lay a hand on his beloved Queen. She fingers Haman. The king, in a rage, stomps out into the garden. When he returns, Haman has tripped and landed on top of Esther on the reclining couches used to dine in those times. The king is infuriated and accuses Haman of trying to assault the Queen in his very house. Haman is sentenced to death, and is hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordechai. His 10 evil sons are also hanged on it, and Mordechai and Esther are given his vast estate and wealth.
Mordechai is appointed to high office in the court, and the kingdom prospers due to his wisdom. This holiday is celebrated at G-d's command unto this very day, by going to synagogue to hear the Scroll of Esther read (most people wear costumes, it's a merry holiday to celebrate), distributing baskets of goodies to one's friends and neighbors, and giving charity to the poor.
This year, I was dressed as the Cat in the Hat. People who live in Orthodox neighborhoods get used to seeing otherwise staid and respectable people walking around as Superman, bumblebees, cowboys, etc. on this day, LOL. I've even seen doctors treating patients while dressed in a fright wig and funny bow tie, and it's OK with the patients. They might be dressed up, too!