Esther 9:20-23

20Mordecai wrote these matters down and sent letters to all the Jews who were throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

21to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year

22as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies – the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.

23So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.