Purim Masquerade (Costumes and Masks)

The custom of wearing costumes and masks on Purim, transforming the holiday into a festive celebration in which participants dress as Megillah characters, biblical figures, or fantastical personages. Communal costume parades became a hallmark of the holiday, adopted from the coincidence of Purim with the Italian pre-Lenten carnival season. Originated among Italian Jewish communities influenced by the contemporaneous carnival season (pre-Lenten masquerades). Spread to Ashkenazi Europe during the 16th century following the Rema's codification of the Mahari Minz ruling. Reached Middle Eastern and Sephardic communities primarily in the 19th century through contact with European Jews.