Jewish children dress up to celebrate Purimfestival

Publish date: 2024-05-20

Jewish children and their families transformed streets around the world into a colourful carnival today as they dressed up as kings and queens, clowns, animals and even superheroes to celebrate the traditional festival of Purim.

The holiday commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia after a beautiful queen, Esther, foiled a royal advisor's plot to annihilate all the country's Jews in just one day.

It is traditionally marked with parades, the giving of presents, and by observers sporting a host of colourful costumes which traditionally take their cue from the Biblical story of Esther, but can also include anything from sailors to Superman, as these photographs taken today in Stamford Hill, north London, show. 

Celebrations marked the holy day across the globe, and even the wintry weather in New York couldn't dampen spirits as families made their way to synagogues through the snow.

Two young siblings in Stamford Hill, North London, dress up as colourful clowns as they mark the Jewish festival of Purim today 

Two young siblings in Stamford Hill, North London, dress up as colourful clowns as they mark the Jewish festival of Purim today 

A string of children all in fancy dress take to the streets of north London as they celebrate the ancient festival, which commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire

A string of children all in fancy dress take to the streets of north London as they celebrate the ancient festival, which commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire

A boy in wolf costume walks through a snowstorm in Brooklyn, New York, as part of the Purim celebrations in the city

A boy in wolf costume walks through a snowstorm in Brooklyn, New York, as part of the Purim celebrations in the city

In New York the snowy weather could not dampen spirits for this man as he made his way to a synagogue in Brooklyn

In New York the snowy weather could not dampen spirits for this man as he made his way to a synagogue in Brooklyn

A Jewish boy dresses up as Uncle Sam as he dashes through the snow on his way to his synagogue in Brooklyn today

A Jewish boy dresses up as Uncle Sam as he dashes through the snow on his way to his synagogue in Brooklyn today

The day commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire where a plot had been formed to destroy them. The celebrations are snowy in Brooklyn, New York

The day commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire where a plot had been formed to destroy them. The celebrations are snowy in Brooklyn, New York

A Jewish boy masquerades as an old man as he makes his was through a snowstorm as he prepares to celebrate Purim in Brooklyn

A Jewish boy masquerades as an old man as he makes his was through a snowstorm as he prepares to celebrate Purim in Brooklyn

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Share A man escorts his children through Stamford Hill, with his sons dressed up as a police officer and a fireman, and his daughter as a clown

A man escorts his children through Stamford Hill, with his sons dressed up as a police officer and a fireman, and his daughter as a clown

The carnival-like holiday is marked by parades and costume parties with participants dressing up in masks and fancy dress outfits in London

The carnival-like holiday is marked by parades and costume parties with participants dressing up in masks and fancy dress outfits in London

Two little girls dress up in matching outfits as they mark the festival This child has shunned a more traditional costume to dress as a panda for the day

Two little girls dress up in matching outfits as they mark the festival, while this child has shunned a more traditional costume to dress as a panda for the day to celebrate the festival in north London

A panda was also the costume of choice for this young boy as he and his friends happily dashed down the street in Stamford Hill

A panda was also the costume of choice for this young boy as he and his friends happily dashed down the street in Stamford Hill

This young boy has a regal air in London as he poses up for a picture to show off his splendid fur-trimmed cape 

This young boy has a regal air in London as he poses up for a picture to show off his splendid fur-trimmed cape 

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A DAY OF FEASTING AND FUN TO COMMEMORATE THE SALVATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN ANCIENT PERSIA 

The Jewish holiday Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from a plot intended to wipe them out.

The story, which is recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther, tells the tale of how an advisor to King Ahasuerus named Haman planned to kill all the Jews, only for his wicked plot to be thwarted by the king's wife Esther and her adoptive father Mordecai. 

Haman had selected a day on which he would annihilate the entire Jewish population and had sent out a decree bearing the King's seal, ordering that every Jewish man, woman and child.

But Esther - who had been chosen as Ahasuerus's wife by taking part in a beauty contest and concealing the fact she was Jewish - later convinced the King to send out a new decree allowing the Jews to rise up and defend themselves - thus saving their lives.

'It is commemorated with a day of feasting with presents of food and charity given to the poor,' a member of staff at The Board of Deputies of British Jews told MailOnline.

'The story is read out in synagogues and it really is a carnival. It's a very happy time.

'Children traditionally get dressed up as Esther, or the King but they can wear anything they like really. And in the synagogue they are given football rattles and noisemakers to drown out Haman's name so it's great fun.

'People go from house to house to give presents of food, such as cake or biscuits and something to drink like wine or juice.

'It's the best time for children because they can go to the synagogue, get dressed up and have lots of fun.' 

These young children from Stamford Hill look older than their years as they dress up for Purim today in Stamford Hill

These young children from Stamford Hill look older than their years as they dress up for Purim today in Stamford Hill

Families often go from house to house, giving out gifts of food such as cake and sweets to their friends and neighbours. Here at Stamford Hill, north London, a man cycles while the child wears a colourful costume

Families often go from house to house, giving out gifts of food such as cake and sweets to their friends and neighbours. Here at Stamford Hill, north London, a man cycles while the child wears a colourful costume

The holy day commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia during the 5th century BC when Royal adviser Haman plotted 'to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day'. Pictured are two girls in fancy dress in London

The holy day commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia during the 5th century BC when Royal adviser Haman plotted 'to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day'. Pictured are two girls in fancy dress in London

The ancient story is recorded in the book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible and tells how a Haman, a royal adviser to King Ahasuerus planned to kill all the Jews in the empire. But his plans were foiled by Mordechai and his adopted daughter Esther. Boys in costume celebrate in London

The ancient story is recorded in the book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible and tells how a Haman, a royal adviser to King Ahasuerus planned to kill all the Jews in the empire. But his plans were foiled by Mordechai and his adopted daughter Esther. Boys in costume celebrate in London

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar - the day following the victory over the plot. Children pose for a picture in the London sunshine

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar - the day following the victory over the plot. Children pose for a picture in the London sunshine

Celebrations are held around the world with children donning fancy dress outfits, ranging from penguins to cowboys, and even musketeers, pictured here in north London

Celebrations are held around the world with children donning fancy dress outfits, ranging from penguins to cowboys, and even musketeers, pictured here in north London

A family dressed in matching sailor outfits make their way through Stamford Hill, going from house to house giving out presents 

A family dressed in matching sailor outfits make their way through Stamford Hill, going from house to house giving out presents 

A group of teenage boys enjoy an open-top bus ride through the streets of north London as they celebrate the holy festival 

A group of teenage boys enjoy an open-top bus ride through the streets of north London as they celebrate the holy festival 

The annual Purim holiday is celebrated by Jewish communities around the world, as here in London, with parades and costume parties, singing and dancing

The annual Purim holiday is celebrated by Jewish communities around the world, as here in London, with parades and costume parties, singing and dancing

A young family dress up as superheroes as they mark the festival of Purim This family don an array of colourful outfits with the children dressing up as clowns, parrots and teddy bears

These young families are getting into the spirit of the day by dressing up as superheroes, clowns, teddy bears and even parrots at Stamford Hill, north London

Two young children in London dress as Enid Blyton's classic character Noddy as they join their families for the Purim celebrations today

Two young children in London dress as Enid Blyton's classic character Noddy as they join their families for the Purim celebrations today

As part of Purim, families are encouraged to share gifts of food and drink, and to donate money to charity, as shown by these children in north London

As part of Purim, families are encouraged to share gifts of food and drink, and to donate money to charity, as shown by these children in north London

Three young children dressed as butchers sit atop a wall outside their house as they watch their friends and neighbours pass by in Stamford Hill in the capital

Three young children dressed as butchers sit atop a wall outside their house as they watch their friends and neighbours pass by in Stamford Hill in the capital

It is traditional for observers to dress as Queen Esther, and this group of young girls make a team perfect princesses as they mark Purim in north London

It is traditional for observers to dress as Queen Esther, and this group of young girls make a team perfect princesses as they mark Purim in north London

The fancy dress element of the day is said by some to commemorate how Esther was able to disguise herself when she took part in a beauty contest, with the winner becoming King Ahasuerus's new bride.  These children enjoy today's sunshine in north London

The fancy dress element of the day is said by some to commemorate how Esther was able to disguise herself when she took part in a beauty contest, with the winner becoming King Ahasuerus's new bride.  These children enjoy today's sunshine in north London

These little girls must be a-buzz with excitement as they dress as bumble bees to celebrate the festival with their friends in Stamford Hill

These little girls must be a-buzz with excitement as they dress as bumble bees to celebrate the festival with their friends in Stamford Hill

As well as dressing up, pictured here in London, children are encouraged to make as much noise as possible whenever Haman's name is uttered in a bid to drown it out.

As well as dressing up, pictured here in London, children are encouraged to make as much noise as possible whenever Haman's name is uttered in a bid to drown it out.

Two young girls dressed in their Purim finery take to the streets of north London with boxes of treats to share with their friends and neighbours

Two young girls dressed in their Purim finery take to the streets of north London with boxes of treats to share with their friends and neighbours

A young boy carries his little sister as she plays her harmonica - making a noise is actively encouraged which gives children even more of a reason to enjoy the celebrations in north London

A young boy carries his little sister as she plays her harmonica - making a noise is actively encouraged which gives children even more of a reason to enjoy the celebrations in north London

Observers also mark the festival by dancing and singing their way through the streets of north London

Observers also mark the festival by dancing and singing their way through the streets of north London

A troop of children joyfully make their way down a street in Stamford Hill, north London, cheering and singing as they go

A troop of children joyfully make their way down a street in Stamford Hill, north London, cheering and singing as they go

In Tel Avi, Israel, people dressed in costumes including superheroes and Elsa from Frozen eagerly await the start of an annual parade 

In Tel Avi, Israel, people dressed in costumes including superheroes and Elsa from Frozen eagerly await the start of an annual parade 

Children dressed as a Stormtrooper, pirate and fairy were among the crowds who gathered for the parade in Holon, near Tel Aviv

Children dressed as a Stormtrooper, pirate and fairy were among the crowds who gathered for the parade in Holon, near Tel Aviv

A carnival dancer wearing an impressive feather headdress performs for the assembled crowds in Holon, Israel

A carnival dancer wearing an impressive feather headdress performs for the assembled crowds in Holon, Israel

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