A Hamantash is a pastry in Jewish cuisine in the shape of a triangle. The filling is placed in the center. It is traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Hamantashen are made with many different fillings, including poppy seed (the oldest and most traditional variety) prunes, nut, date, apricot, apple, fruit preserves, cherry and chocolate. The name hamantash is commonly known as a reference to Haman, the villain of Purim, as described in the Book of Esther. The pastries are supposed to symbolize the defeated enemy of the Jewish people, and thus resemble the "ears of Haman".