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March 10, 2006
From princess to Power Ranger
This year's trends in Israeli Purim costumes include the traditional
and the contemporary.
BATSHEVA POMERANTZ ISRAEL PRESS SERVICE
The days leading up to Purim are filled with merriment and mirth.
This is a time of high spirits for the Jewish people, who throughout
generations of exile were beset with worries and calamities.
Purim lore – based on mitzvot from Megillat Esther (the
Book of Esther) and on custom – sanctions abundant food and
drink, making noise, getting drunk, swapping food packages (mishloach
manot), poking fun at our most sacred institutions and especially
masquerading in costumes.
It was in the late 1400s that the Jews of Italy, who observed the
Italian Catholics' Lenten carnival at around the same time of year
(known for its elaborate masks and costumes), adopted this custom
for themselves and began to masquerade as part of their Purim celebration.
The custom of wearing costumes can also be traced to the prominent
role of fabric and clothing in Megillat Esther, which takes place
in Persia. King Ahasuerus hosts a royal feast in the courtyard of
his palace, which is decorated with sumptuous fabrics. When he holds
a beauty pageant to pick a new queen, the young women undergo beauty
treatments and dress in lavish attire. In another scene, Mordechai
is paraded around the streets of Shushan in royal garments –
his reward for saving the king's life.
The story of Megillat Esther is a "masqueraded" miracle,
so to speak, compared to more "revealed" miracles like
the parting of the Red Sea (commemorated on Passover) and the small
amount of oil for the Temple Menorah which lasts for eight days
(celebrated on Chanukah). Even the name of Purim's heroine, Esther,
is derived from the Hebrew root hester, which means "concealment."
However, there is no concealing the glittering array of costumes
and accessories displayed in toy stores around Israel almost two
months before the holiday.
This year's hit, according to Hanny Zaig, advertising director at
Kfar HaShashuim – a toy and gift chain with 70 branches around
the country – is Inuyasha, the main character (half-human,
half-demon) of a popular Japanese animated series by the same name,
which has caught the imagination of Israeli boys and girls up and
down the country.
Despite this, he Zaig said, boys still continue to show a preference
for perennial heroes like Spiderman, Superman, Action Man and the
Power Rangers; while elaborate princess costumes, such as Queen
Esther and Queen of the Night, as well as dolls such as Barbie,
remain favorites among girls.
For Orthodox girls, Kfar HaShashuim offers the metaphorical "Shabbat
Queen." Orthodox boys can choose from biblical characters such
as Joseph in his striped coat and the high priest in his layered
garments and ornaments.
Fairy tale characters like Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and
Peter Pan are also making a comeback.
Yael Meir, marketing director of Toys R Us in Israel noted that
although the classic police officer and doctor will always remain
popular, "I predict that the leading costume this year will
be the Magic Fairy" (a costume based on a popular children's
play with Israeli actress and children's television presenter Sophie
Zedaka.)
Despite the frivolity of Purim, consumers and children can't fail
to be affected by news headlines. Meir's comment about the popularity
of police officer costumes notwithstanding. For example, religious
children (mainly national-religious, but also some Charedi who are
in tune with the news) are unlikely to dress up as police officers
since the Amona showdown.
Moreover, since a period of suicide bombings a few short years ago,
the yellow vests of ZAKA volunteers (the unit which removes the
bodies of victims of terror attacks) have become quite popular in
ultra-Orthodox circles. Likewise, children also dress up as medics
from Hatzolah, a nonprofit emergency medical service that assists
victims of terrorism.
Last year, Uzi Cohen, the relatively anonymous deputy mayor of Ra'anana,
became one of the new stars of the popular TV satire Wonderful
Country. The ape-like impersonations were so hilarious that
it made Cohen – who alternated between embracing his newfound
popularity and condemning the somewhat offensive imitations –
one of the most recognizable politicians in Israel, and many children
dress up as the satirized television character.
And of course, there are always those creative mothers who make
innovative handmade costumes depicting typical everyday Israeli
items. Some mothers, for example, have sent their children out as
milk bags, with real Tnuva milk bags (yes, milk in Israel comes
in bags) pasted all over their outfit. Bus passes are enlarged many
times over and sewn on to costumes – producing mobile bus passes.
Despite being awkward, cardboard boxes are often used to turn youngsters
into portable TV sets, rather than the TV stars themselves.
Purim in Israel is a public holiday marked by street carnivals,
parades, parties, music and laughter – and both children and
adults dress in colorful costumes at work, in school and in the
synagogue. Let us hope that Purim this year will not be affected
by the frenzy of election campaigning or the current political reality
and that it continue to unite us as a people and be a celebration
of the Jewish people's deliverance from evil.
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