Purim is a festive time here in Israel. Similarly to in the States, where holiday items are displayed and offered for sale a month before the holiday, here, the mood is ushered in weeks prior to the event.
So many stores have had all types of costumes, large and small, in every imaginable theme, available for some time now. The mood is heightened by the added music typical of the "season" piped out onto the streets around Jerusalem.
Today, though, began one of my favorite sites and the experience of one of my annual pleasures in living here. Today, many schools held what is commonly known as "shuk Purim".
This is a day when all the kids are encouraged to come dressed in their Purim costume to school.
There are generally no classes held. Rather, the kids participate in mini carnivals at their school.
They can play games, earn points, buy tickets to "cash" in for small prizes.
The children look very forward to this occasion all throughout the winter.
The other joy that I reap is to see the kids walking home in their Purim costumes.
This includes children from religious just as well as kids from non religious homes.
This is a national holiday. It is a day of unity and celebration of our survival, as a nation and now, on our own land.
My 15 year old went as a hippy with a few of my headscarves wrapped strategically around her in all colors. My boys went as a rescue worker for Magen David Adom--the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross. And my littlest went as Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean.
I haven't yet decided if I will put on a special hat for the occasion.
I am though, partial to some of the very cute antennae which can be put on as a headband and stick up over the head--like rabbit ears or pink fuzzy balls, etc.
I did buy for a friend of mine though, a fake black hat with peyot attached(side locks)!
Will you dress up?
Purim Sameach!
Yehudit