Esther 9:21-23

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

²¹ That they should receive the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar for holy days, and always at the return of the year should celebrate them with solemn honour:

²² Because on those days the Jews revenged themselves of their enemies, and their mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and joy, and that these should be days of feasting and gladness, in which they should send one to another portions of meats; and should give gifts to the poor.

²³ And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.