We all know that Purim costumes are more than just a cute minhag that Klal Yisrael practices

How Do You Get Up?

Growing up, my family took Purim costumes very seriously. Our themes were planned months in advance, and there was an almost tense anticipation in the house in the days leading up to the grand reveal.

But whenever I asked my mother what I would dress up as on the upcoming Purim, her answer was always the same. “A voile meidel.”

I guess you can say that a good girl is still my go-to costume many times — and not only on Purim.

We all know that Purim costumes are more than just a cute minhag that Klal Yisrael practices. The assortment of hats, frocks, and gowns reveal the inner workings of family cultures — and the mother’s levels of both brilliance and tolerance. When it comes to choosing a new identity for a day, what’s your costume style?

IMAGE CONSCIOUS

A picture is worth a thousand hamantaschen. Once you’ve put in all that effort to customize clones of Samantha and Molly, you need an excellent family photo to send along with your shalach manos packages, because otherwise how will people remember how creative you are? The best time to schedule this photo shoot is for Chanukah vacation. The kids are off from school, you’re beating the last-minute rush, and besides, you won’t be able to take care of this Erev Purim — you’ll be too busy ordering personalized luggage for camp at that point.

WORKAROUND

Purim costumes are about creativity — and flexibility. Since you know good and well that you’ll never convince your son to be a banana, give in, let him be a cop — and tell your daughter that if she doesn’t agree to dress up as a handcuffed suspect, you’re not taking her to her teacher’s house on Purim.

If she still refuses to cooperate, arrest her.

CHALLENGING

You are brilliant. In fact, your brilliance astounds — and bewilders. Is your son dressed up as Moshe Rabbeinu, a baba, malach Michoel, or l’havdil Osama bin Laden?

Warn your shalach manos recipients to be careful. A wrong guess can ruin a kid’s Purim.

CHARACTERIZED

Certain dynamics beg for specific getups. If you have twins named Mordechai and Esther, you know you’ll have to do a Megillah-themed Purim the year they’re born. If said twins happen to also be rascals, how can you not dress them up as Thing One and Thing Two when they’re in the throes of the Terrible Twos? (If you’re also Inclusive, see below, you know what you will have to dress up as that year.)

Blessed with a family of seven boys and a bas yechidah? Your Purim theme is in the bag. Even if the perfect characterization doesn’t feel all that perfect to the kids, and they don’t necessarily appreciate who they personify. “No, tzaddik, of course you aren’t Dopey, it’s just a costume, right?”

INANIMATED

Most kids dress up as someone: a doctor, a lawyer, a merchant, a chief. But your kids dress up as something. A Slurpee, a trash can, a Rubik’s Cube. (Rubik’s Cube, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to walk to Morah’s house, did you really think we can fit six bo

ed kids in the car?)

So when the neighbor whom you barely greet but who graciously hosted your cholent pot that Shabbos when your fuse blew opens the door to accept your lunch box shalach manos (school supplies, lunch box, get it?), know that she’s only being human.

“Hey, kid, what are you?”

“I’m not a kid, I’m a sharpener.”

Uh, good point.

FREESTYLE

Purim is a day for kids to have a good time. Where in the Megillah does it say that costumes have to have a theme — and that the theme has to coordinate with your shalach manos? You’re too old for this. Your son wants to be an astronaut, your other son wants to be Pharaoh, let them. Your daughter wants to be you? Fine. Isn’t it refreshing to have an astronaut, Pharaoh, and a zombie in one family?

INCLUSIVE

Dressing up on Purim is a minhag for the young — and for the young at heart. Everyone loves hearing how adorable their kids are, and some people also like to hear how adorable they are. “You really are adorable, Honey. I’ve never seen such an adorable beekeeper in my life!”

If you really have this need to fill, one suggestion: No honey cookies in your shalach manos. That would simply bee too adorable.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 784)