So you spent too much time making hamantaschen, planning a Purim carnival and otherwise preparing for the holiday, or maybe it just completely slipped your mind. And now you’re missing one of the most important parts of the Purim celebration: a costume!
Purim carnivals are thought to have originated in 16th century Venice, and took much inspiration from the Carnival of Venice and the lavish costumes often worn there. While the Purim carnivals of today are far removed from the Venetian masquerades that are still held annually, they still carry on the tradition of having attendees wear costumes.
But your costume does not have to be incredibly elaborate, especially if you are pressed for time. Here are several ideas for Purim costumes that can be made in a short amount of time.
Purim Story Characters
Because we don’t know what the characters in the Purim story looked like, and we only have limited information about what ancient Persians wore, dressing as Esther, Mordecai or Haman offers a lot of flexibility. One of the few things we do know is that Mordecai wore a blue robe, so if you have a blue bedsheet on hand, that’s a costume already!
Large pieces of fabric, like bedsheets or tablecloths, can make for quick robes in a pinch. While they may not be historically accurate to what Esther, Mordecai and Haman may have actually worn, they get the idea across easily.
If you have any pieces from past Halloween costumes, they can also be added onto these costumes to better communicate the character — a princess crown can indicate that Esther is a queen, while a pirate hat or tricorn hat can stand in for Haman’s iconic three-pointed hat.
Athlete
If you are a sports fan, you may have a fair amount of sports jerseys and equipment lying around. You can use these to make a quick-and-easy costume, whether you’re dressing as your favorite athlete or just as the average baseball player.
A jersey and sneakers is always a good place to start. If you want to go the extra mile, you can use black makeup on the cheeks to simulate eye black, the paint-like substance many athletes use to reduce glare from the sun and from stadium lights.
When going to a Purim carnival, though, it’s important to note that there is a time and place for certain costumes and props. While a baseball bat may make your baseball player costume look more real, it could be dangerous to bring one to a public event with many people attending. Exercise your best judgment when it comes to what would be a fun prop and what would be potentially dangerous.
Tourist
Another costume that can easily be made with clothes you can find around the house, particularly Aloha shirts. While these might be far from the clothes you would wear while on vacation, it’s hard to shake the popular image of a tourist clad in an Aloha shirt, khaki shorts and sunglasses.
Complete the look with a fanny pack and hat if you have one on hand, or, for extra fun, add a strip of sunscreen onto your nose.
Just Out of the Shower
If you want to look like you just got out of the bath before you went to the Purim carnival, try putting a bathrobe over your clothes and wearing a shower cap or towel over your hair.
For additional props, you can bring a sponge, scrubbing brush or rubber duckie. Almost all of these are things that most people typically have around their house, so it’s an easy-to-put-together costume that’s sure to get a big laugh out of your friends.
…Or Just Reuse Your Halloween Costume
There’s no shame in it! Normally, you can only wear your Halloween costume once a year, so what’s the harm in getting another good use out of it for Purim? Princesses and superheroes are common Purim costumes, so as long as your Halloween costume isn’t too scary, you’ll be sure to fit right in.
