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The Jewish holiday of Purim is a special time for merrymaking and partying — in fact, it’s actually a commandment! That’s because the holiday commemorates the Jewish people’s survival and resilience, triumphing against all odds in a feat of courage and righteousness worthy of much celebration.
In addition to blessings and prayers, drinking and eating in a festive atmosphere, and giving gifts of food and drink called mishloach manot, costumes are a traditional — and cherished — part of Purim. So let these Purim costume ideas inspire your family’s looks this year, no matter what type of getup you’re dreaming up.
The origin of Purim costumes comes from the biblical story of Queen Esther, who is secretly Jewish and devises a brave plan to help save her people from the villain Haman, an advisor to her husband, King Achashverosh. Her effort resulted in the Jews’ salvation, an outcome commemorated with parties, festivals, parades, and more. The royal figures from this story make for the most traditional Purim costumes. But anything goes (kind of like Halloween)! Disney favorites, superheroes, TV characters, and DIY masterpieces are all fair game for Purim costume ideas.
Corresponding with the Hebrew year 5784, Purim begins at sundown on March and ends at nightfall on March 24. Knowing this, now’s the time to lock down the idea sure to win the costume contest!
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Keep it traditional with a store-bought Queen Esther costume. Or whip up a DIY version with upcycled skirts, ribbon, a jeweled headband, costume jewelry, and a thrifted or DIY wedding veil.
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Dress up as Purim's villain, Haman (boo, hiss!) in this costume. It includes a brocade robe with an attached drape and Haman's famously hamentaschen-inspiring three-cornered hat.
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Get into the Harry Potter spirit this Purim with a wizard-in-training uniform inspired by Hermione Granger at Hogwarts. It includes a full twill robe with Gryffindor patch, a dress, and a collar with a neck tie.
RELATED: Best Harry Potter Gift Ideas for the Most Magical Person on Your List
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Goldfish
This DIY costume idea looks so cool — and so hard to pull off. But it’s actually easy and totally doable, using an orange sweatshirt with dyed coffee filters for scales and oversized eyes sewn onto the hoodie.
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Rainbow and Pot of Gold
This costume is so fun and super easy to make. Just add colorful felt stripes to the sleeves of a blue sweatshirt and spray paint an old (or thrifted) pot in shiny gold. That’s it!
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Ladybug
A red jacket is the star of this sweet DIY ladybug costume. Black chenille stems for the antennas and felt for the dots complete the eye-catching — and adorable — look.
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RELATED: Best Last-Minute Costumes That Are So Easy to DIY
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To transform kids into Minions, you can go with a store-bought costume like this one. Just as easily, you can DIY the look with a pair of overalls and a yellow shirt.
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This Wednesday Addams costume comes with a collared black dress, coordinating knee socks, and other accessories. Of course, everything's done in black so it's guaranteed to conceal hamantaschen stains!
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Netflix's Gabby's Dollhouse is all about imagination, play, and color — a perfect complement to Purim's themes.
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Kiddos obsessed with Encanto will have fun transforming into Isabella in this purple floral tiered gown with a coordinating flower headband, of course.
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Salt and Pepper Shakers
This is the sweetest (or should we say spiciest?) costume for siblings or friends to wear as a pair on Purim, and making it is as easy as can be. All you need are clear plastic garbage bags filled with packing peanuts and black pom-poms. Label them "S" and "P" — and you’re done!
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The sky's not even the limit: It's outer space and beyond! Inspire their big dreams with an astronaut costume for Purim.
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Trophy
This fun and unique trophy costume is easy to make: Just spray paint white clothes to give them a gold finish. Customize the look to your kiddo’s own favorite sport with the ball of their choice.
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Frog
Whip up this DIY frog costume in less than an hour. Styrofoam balls and googly eyes attached to the hood, plus gardening gloves for the hands and feet, complete the clever getup.
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Rosie the Riveter
Since Purim celebrates the power of women at its core, Rosie the Riveter makes for a perfect (easy!) DIY costume idea. A red bandana is the centerpiece of the look.
RELATED: Best Halloween Costume Ideas for Women
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Gumball Machine
To turn simple supplies into a cute gumball machine costume, glue colorful pompoms onto a white tank top and along the top of a black headband. Add a cardboard coin slot to complete the look.
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This sparkly costume turns your little one into a magical mermaid. We have zero doubt they'll love boasting their colorful scales and shiny princess crown.
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Scuba Diver
Empty soda bottles transform into convincing oxygen tanks for this DIY scuba diver costume. Just add goggles and boom!
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