Purim is a Jewish holiday to celebrate the Jewish people being saved from Haman. The tradition to eat hamantaschen on Purim appears to have begun in Europe. The name is derived from two German words: mohn (poppy seed) and taschen (pockets). Mohntaschen, or “poppy seed pockets,” were a popular German pastry dating from medieval times. Around the late 1500s, German Jews dubbed them Hamantaschen, or “Hamans pockets.” The play on words likely references the rumor that the evil Hamans pockets were filled with bribe money. Plus, mohn sounds like Haman. As with several Rosh Hashana food traditions, certain foods gained symbolic meaning, because their names sounded like words for qualities people hoped would characterize the year ahead.
The pastries are supposed to symbolize the defeated enemy of the Jewish people. The word tash means “pouch” or “pocket” in Yiddish, and thus may refer to Haman’s pockets, symbolizing the money that Haman offered to Ahasuerus in exchange for permission to destroy the Jews.
What About Haman’s Hat?
Another popular explanation for the hamantaschens shape is that it represents Hamans three-cornered hat. These are often imagined as the “cocked hats” popular in Colonial America, or as Napoleons distinctive topper. But these styles were not in fashion in Hamans time, and its unlikely he ever wore hats like these. Its much more probable that over the centuries, as hats came into vogue that resembled hamantaschen, an association between Hamans alleged hat and the pastries was born.
Was Haman All Ears?
Another explanation for the Purim hamantaschen eating tradition is related to a Midrash (Jewish commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures) that describes Haman bent over and shamed, with “oznayim mekutafot” (the phrase has been mistranslated to mean clipped—or cut off—ears, though twisted ears would be more accurate).
In Israel, hamantashen are called oznei haman, which means Hamans ears. But originally, oznei haman referred to a different type of pastry altogether: fried dough drenched in honey or sugar syrup that was popular throughout the Sephardic world.
Hamantaschen, a sweet Purim tradition
FAQ
What is the story behind hamantaschen cookies?
Why are hamantaschen shaped like a triangle?
What does hamantaschen translate to?
What are some fun facts about hamantaschen?
What is the plural of hamantaschen?
This Yiddish word is pronounced huh-min-tah-shun, and while technically the plural form of hamantasch , the word hamantaschen can refer to either one cookie or many. To shape hamantaschen, circles are cut from thinly rolled dough and the sides are folded in around a dollop of filling.
Is hamentaschen a Jewish word?
Hamentaschen are a popular basket-stuffer. “Hamantaschen” is a Yiddish word meaning “Haman’s pockets.” Haman is the villain in the Purim story, which appears in the Biblical Book of Esther. The word “hamantash” is singular. “Hamantashen” is the plural form.
What is a Jewish Hamantash?
A hamantash ( pl.: hamantashen; also spelled hamantasch, hamantaschen; Yiddish: המן־טאַשhomentash, pl.: המן־טאַשןhomentashn, ‘Haman pockets’) is an Ashkenazi Jewish triangular filled-pocket pastry associated with the Jewish holiday of Purim. The name refers to Haman, the villain in the Purim story.
What is a hamantaschen in Judaism?
In Hebrew the cookies are called “ ozney Haman ” which means “Haman’s ears” and refers to the custom of cutting off a criminal’s ears before his execution. Mmm, yum, cookies! A third idea suggests that each corner of a hamantaschen represents one of the “fathers” of Judaism—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—whose “power” weakened Haman