Purim falls on the Hebrew calendar date of Adar 14, which is March 23-24 this year.
Here are the coinciding secular dates for 2017:
March 9 & 12
As explained by Chabad.org, the Jewish calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand. Thus holiday observances begin at sunset of the first secular date listed (with the Purim Night Megillah reading taking place that evening), and the holiday concludes at nightfall the following day.
Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.
The story of Purim is told in the book of Esther. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter.
It is a joyous time of celebration and special treats.
Tip! Learn All About the Jewish Holiday Purim, shared by Tori Avey.
Read The Feminist History of the Jewish Holiday of Purim at TIME.