1,409. Haman's Ten Sons; Observing 14 and 15 Adar

Hilchos Megillah v’Chanukah 2:12

The names of Haman’s ten sons (in Esther chapter 9) and the word following them, “aseres” (ten), should all be read in one breath to illustrate that they were all hanged and killed together. The universal practice is for the one reading the megillah to spread the scroll out like a letter. When he finishes, he rolls the scroll back up and recites the concluding bracha.

Hilchos Megillah v’Chanukah 2:13

On the two days that are observed as Purim, 14 and 15 Adar, it is prohibited to eulogize or to fast. This rule applies to everybody, everywhere – both to the residents of walled cities who only observe Purim on 15 Adar and those of unwalled cities who only observe it on 14 Adar. In a leap year, one is not permitted to eulogize or to fast on these dates in both Adar I and Adar II. When residents of villages read the megillah earlier than others, on the Monday or Thursday preceding Purim, they are permitted to eulogize and to fast on the day they read the megillah; they are prohibited from eulogizing or fasting on 14 and 15 Adar even though they do not read the megillah on those dates.