Purim is a vibrant Jewish holiday known for its festive spirit, including the tradition of dressing up in costumes. This tradition is rooted in the story of Queen Esther, who concealed her Jewish identity to save her people. Whether you're looking for traditional costumes inspired by the Purim story or more contemporary and creative ideas, here are twelve fantastic Purim costume ideas for kids.
1. Queen Esther
Queen Esther is one of the most iconic figures associated with Purim. To create a Queen Esther costume, you can use a combination of thrifted items and DIY elements:
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Materials Needed: A richly colored skirt, a ribbon, a jeweled headband, costume jewelry, and a wedding veil.
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Instructions: Combine these elements to create a regal and elegant look befitting a queen. You can also add a cape for an extra touch of royalty.
2. King Achashverosh
King Achashverosh, the Persian king from the Purim story, is another traditional costume choice:
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Materials Needed: A long robe, a crown, and a scepter.
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Instructions: A bathrobe can be repurposed as the king's robe. Add a homemade crown from construction paper and a scepter made from a stick and some decorative elements.
3. Mordechai
Mordechai, the hero of the Purim story, is a great costume for boys:
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Materials Needed: Heavy-weight paper for the crown, cotton for a beard, and blue fabric for a cape.
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Instructions: Create a crown from the paper, glue cotton onto a beard-shaped piece of cardboard, and fashion a cape from the blue fabric.
4. Haman
For those who enjoy playing the villain, Haman is a fitting choice:
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Materials Needed: Dark clothing, a hat, and a fake mustache.
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Instructions: Dress in dark robes or clothing, add a hat, and attach a fake mustache to complete the look.
5. Disney Princesses
Disney princesses are always a popular choice for Purim:
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Examples: Ariel from *The Little Mermaid*, Elsa from *Frozen*, and Belle from *Beauty and the Beast*.
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Instructions: Use existing costumes or create DIY versions using colorful fabrics and accessories. For Ariel, use a purple top, a shell necklace, and green scarves for the skirt. For Elsa, use tulle and silvery iron-ons to create her iconic dress.
6. Superheroes
Superhero costumes are a hit among kids and can be reused for other occasions:
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Examples: Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and The Flash.
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Instructions: Purchase ready-made costumes or create your own using colored clothing and accessories. For Spider-Man, use a red and blue outfit with a spider emblem. For Wonder Woman, use a red top, blue skirt, and gold accessories.
7. Animals
Animal costumes are cute and easy to make:
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Examples: Tiger, Ladybug, and Frog.
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Instructions: Use colored clothing and add elements like ears, tails, and face paint. For a tiger, use an orange outfit with black stripes and a tail. For a ladybug, use a red jacket with black dots and chenille stems for antennas.
8. TV and Movie Characters
Characters from popular TV shows and movies are always a great choice:
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Examples: Wednesday Addams, Super Mario Bros., and characters from *Harry Potter*.
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Instructions: For Wednesday Addams, use a black dress, white collar, and black wig with pigtails. For Mario and Luigi, use suspenders, hats, and gloves.
9. DIY Creative Costumes
Encourage creativity with DIY costumes:
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Examples: Crayons, Goldfish, and Rainbow and Pot of Gold.
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Instructions: For a crayon costume, use pants, a shirt, and socks in the same color, and add stripes with electrical tape. For a goldfish, use an orange sweatshirt with dyed coffee filters for scales.
10. Occupational Costumes
Kids love dressing up as different professions:
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Examples: Astronaut, Cowboy, and Racecar Driver.
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Instructions: Use themed clothing and accessories. For an astronaut, use a white jumpsuit and add NASA patches. For a cowboy, use jeans, a plaid shirt, and a cowboy hat.
11. Storybook Characters
Characters from beloved storybooks make for charming costumes:
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Examples: Dorothy from *The Wizard of Oz*, Alice from *Alice in Wonderland*, and Goldilocks.
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Instructions: For Dorothy, use a blue gingham dress and red shoes. For Alice, use a blue dress with a white apron.
12. Family-Themed Costumes
Family-themed costumes can be a fun way to celebrate together:
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Examples: Cops and Robbers, Mary Poppins, and Bees.
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Instructions: Coordinate costumes for the whole family. For Cops and Robbers, dress some family members as police officers and others as robbers. For Mary Poppins, dress as Mary, Bert, and chimney sweeps.
Purim is a time for joy and creativity, and these costume ideas offer a range of options from traditional to modern, ensuring that every child can find something they love. Whether you choose to buy a costume or make one at home, the most important thing is to have fun and celebrate the spirit of Purim.