<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">gragers</topic></authority><related type="other"><topic>Purim</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>ceremonial rattles</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>ceremonial sound devices</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>Purim noisemaker</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>grager</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>grogger</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>purim noisemaker</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Noisemakers, usually comprised of a handle and a rectangular wooden rattle. Used as part of Purim celebrations; during the reading of the ‘Scroll of Esther,’ children are encouraged to rattle gragers each time Haman, the chief minister of the Persian King Ahasuerus, is named. This act is symbolically meant to drown out his plot against Persian Jews.  ]]></note></mads>