Unlike other Jewish Biblical festivals, Purim in its modern avatar is fun and celebratory. While other festivals are observed in private, over a solemn meal with the family, Purim is when everyone is out on the streets either masquerading as someone, playing silly pranks, or observing the Purim revelers. I particularly enjoy walking around the city on Purim, trailing superheroes, fairy tale characters, vampires, witches, and that odd girl who could be the Milky Way…

Purim marks the salvation of Persian Jews from Haman, an evil Biblical character. The festival has its roots in the Book of Esther and is an important Jewish Biblical holiday. The Bible though does not say anything about dressing up and playing pranks for Purim. The tradition of wearing costumes and making merry apparently originated in the 14th century and that later morphed into people wearing masks in the 15th century. In the 13th century a practice of pre-Lent masquerading carnivals had taken off. Since the two festivals took place around the same time, the Jews borrowed the masquerading custom and turned Purim into a merry holiday.

In essence, Purim, Israel’s answer to Halloween, marks the beginning of Spring and Day Light Savings. Even though the festival is just for a single day, the festivities are week-long. Adults, children and their pets don costumes to work, schools, synagogues or a walk around the neighborhood. Or as an Israeli friend says, “To some it is an excuse to walk around naked.” That’s just Tel Aviv.

In fact, Purim in Tel Aviv can be confusing. It is common to see Hare Krishna devotees in traditional Indian wear, singing bhajans, in public spaces on weekends in this city. These devotees in addition to Tel Aviv’s fashion forward crowd make an average day in the city very colourful and surprising. So a Buddhist monk walking down Rothschild Boulevard can be deceiving.

Last year, a friend’s son dressed up as a boy from a Haredi family. Now that creates the worst kind of confusion! You rarely see Haredim in Tel Aviv so when you do see one, you count on them being plain Haredi, not masquerading as one!

All in all, Purim is the best display of Tel Aviv’s ultra-playful attitude.