3509. On Purim night, candles should be lit in the home (without a bracha) and the table should be set just as on Shabbos. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 695:1
3510. There is mitzvah to eat a Seudah on Purim night, and candles should be lit at all Purim Seudah’s. The night Seudah need not be as elaborate as the daytime Seudah. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 695:1, see Shaarei Tshuvah
3511. The Shulchan Aruch does not specify that the mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim is only with wine. Nevertheless, the main drink should be wine because Rashi (Megillah 7a), The Rambam (Hilchos Megillah 2:15), The Rokeach (Siman 237), and The Radvaz (1:462) all specifically mention wine {because many miracles happened at The “Mishteh Haya’yin”}. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Moadim U’zmanim 2:190
3512. It is good to learn Torah before beginning the Seudas Purim, and this is a Tikkun that there should not be any ‘Takalah’ (trouble) at the Seudah. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Berurah 695:2, Mes. Megillah 16b, Darchei Moshe 695:3, Nit’ay Gavriel 69:1
3513. The Chofetz Chaim brings the words of the Chayei Odom that “One who knows himself, that he will be ‘mezalzel’ (i.e. and not properly fulfill) any mitzvah because of drinking wine; for example Netilas Yadayim, or any beracha, or Bircas Hamazon, or he will fail to daven Mincha or Maariv, or he will behave with ‘Kalus Rosh’ (i.e. improperly), he should not become intoxicated. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Berurah 695:2, see Biur Halacha
3514. There is a Mitzvah for every Jew to study Hilchos Pesach beginning thirty days before the Yom Tov (i.e. on Purim) to know the correct way to perform the Pesach mitzvos. This obligation extends throughout all the days of Pesach itself. Included in this Mitzvah is the Shabbos Hagadol Drasha, a portion of which should be devoted to Hilchos Pesach. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 429:1
Halacha L’kovod Shabbos – “Carrying a Megillah on Shabbos With An Eruv”
One may not carry a Megillah to shul on Shabbos afternoon (which is Erev Purim) even in a place with a proper Eruv because one may not prepare for Chol (i.e. Purim) on Shabbos. Rather, one should bring the Megillah to shul before Shabbos, or after Shabbos. Shaarei Tshuva 693:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:7
