Why do Jews dress up on Purim? What is the reason for the masquerading madness? Why is it that on Purim, incognito is in vogue? From where does the costume custom come?
Scholars offer many plausible explanations. For example, some look to the text, Megillat Esther, and opine that dress-up on Purim commemorates when our hero, Mordechai, dressed up in royal garb as part of the honor bestowed on him by King Achashverosh. (The King also ordered Mordechai to be paraded through the town on the King’s royal horse but for some reason, Jews rarely ride horses, preferring wine—or whine—over equine.)
Some insist that dressing up on Purim finds its source elsewhere in the text. In Megillat Esther, Haman, while attempting to poison the King’s attitude toward Jews, refers to certain people who are scattered throughout the kingdom, hiding in plain sight, and keep their own laws and customs. Thus, on Purim Jews wear disguises to proudly present how they are different from others. (Some Jews arguably do not need special costumes to display their differences, especially in view of kippot, tzitzit, blacks hats, shtreimels, long black coats, long beards, payot, sheitels, long sleeves, long skirts, etc. This is particularly true when all of these items are worn at the beach.)
Other scholars suggest that Jews dress up in costume on Purim so that when those in need of charity come around to collect, they blend in and thus do not stand out. In other words, beggars can’t be choosers but they can dress up like them. (People who are extremely poor are poverty-stricken and people who are extremely obsessed with kilns are pottery-stricken.)
Some believe that dressing up on Purim represents how the miracles that occurred throughout the Purim story were disguised in everyday events. In other words, Megillat Esther is filled with blessings in disguise. (If you fly first class, you will be filled with blessings in di-skies.)
Some experts contend that dressing up on Purim is a reference to the fact that Esther essentially masqueraded as a non-Jew and hid her true allegiance until the time was right to reveal it. Masquerading as a non-Jew likely meant acting in ways that were antithetical to Jewish culture and identity. For example, if Esther’s friends told her that they went to a party, Esther had to stop herself from immediately asking: “How was the food?”
Purim costumes should be tasteful, inspiring and non-controversial. It is perfectly fine to masquerade as characters from the Purim story including Esther, Mordechai and King Achashverosh. Even Vashti and Haman are not off-limits. Many people, however, step outside the classic Purim personas and disguise themselves in clever, out-of-the-box disguises. That is perfectly fine but costumes certainly should not offend, nauseate or bewilder. They should amuse, not confuse. They should electrify, not terrify. They should bring joy, not annoy or elicit an “Oy!”
Here are examples of hypothetical Purim costumes that would not be well-received or at least would have others scratching their heads with puzzlement:
1. A rabbi who just found out that his contract will not be renewed.
2. A chazzan who suffers from chronic and incurable laryngitis.
3. An astonishingly careless and reckless school crossing-guard with poor vision and judgment.
4. A spouse who just realized that today is his wedding anniversary. (Doghouse!)
5. A morbidly obese chef who is fired from his restaurant job because he literally eats everything that he cooks.
6. A lifeguard who suffers from aquaphobia.
7. A pilot who suffers from aerophobia.
8. A school principal who must explain to a legacy family why their youngest child will not be accepted into the high school attended by all of her older siblings.
9. A sedentary gym teacher.
10. A shul president who, at the end of davening, insists on delivering the weekly announcements only in obscure foreign languages.
11. A police officer who enjoys falsely accusing and ticketing the innocent.
12. An accountant who struggles with math.
13. A wailing bar mitzvah boy who has just been brutally pelted with candy.
14. A groom under the chuppah who suddenly realizes that he is already married to another woman.
15. A bride walking down the aisle who gets such a bad case of cold feet that she has to be hospitalized for frostbite.
16. A mailman who completely misunderstands the postal carrier’s motto and thus delivers mail only when it rains, sleets or snows.
17. The president of the IBA, International Bald Association, who insists that “less is more.”
18. The CEO of a kindling company who self-servingly advises that if you are stranded somewhere and calling for help: “Speak loudly and carry a small stick.”
Final thought: It is better to dress up than to receive a dressing-down.
By Jon Kranz
