How to Make Purim Costumes from the Story of Purim

Instead of the usual princess and knight costumes, why not make Purim costumes inspired by the wonderful story of Purim ? Boys will love to be the evil Haman or the wise Mordecai, and girls will feel adorned as the coy Vashti or the vitreous Esther. The homemade Purim costume ideas below are cheap and easy to make, and because children usually hate to wear masks, none of the Purim costumes require one. So bring the story of Purim to life this year by making Purim costumes for the leading characters.

#1. Esther Purim Costume

Esther is both beautiful and vitreous so be sure to make this Purim costume mostly in white. Here are the steps for making the Esther Purim Costume:

Step 1. Begin with a white dress. If you don't have one, you can bleach an old colorful dress in a bucket with half a bottle of bleach and warm water.

Step 2. Buy a string of pearls or white beads (used for Christmas tree decorations) and enhance the beauty of the Esther Purim costume by twirling them around the waist.

Step 3. String beautiful pearl beads on craft wire to form a simple crown.

Step 4. If desired, add a long-haired wig from a party store.

To enhance the beauty of the Esther Purim costume, be sure to highlight the beauty of the face with subdued lipstick, rogue and mascara.

#2. Vashti Purim Costume

Vashti was very beautiful but also vain and coy, so be sure to make the Vashti Purim costume in black and glittering jewels.

Step 1. Start with a black dress. If you don't have one, take an old dress and dye it black using RIT Black Dye (found in craft stores).

Step 2. At a craft store buy an elegant curtain tie-back with a thick cord. Enhance the beauty of the Esther Purim costume by tying the cord around the waist with the tassels in the front.

Step 3. Buy an ornate gold crown at a Party Store, or make an ornate crown worthy of the Vashti Purim costume.

Step 4. Really make this Purim costume stunning by adding costume jewelry.

Step 5. If desired, buy a long-haired black wig at a party store.

Complete the Vashti Purim costume by painting the face exotically: green eye-shadow, red lipstick, bright rouge.

#3. Haman Purim Costume

In the Purim story Haman is the villain, but that doesn't mean the Haman Purim costume hast to be ugly. On the contrary, a formidable villain makes the story all the better.

Step 1. Begin by dressing the child all in black.

Step 2. Create a knight's garment to wear over the clothes. Cut two rectangles of long cardboard. Coat them with shiny silver or black duct tape from a craft store and connect them at the top on either side. Haman will slip this shielded garment over his head to coat his ordinary clothes.

Step 3. Enhance the menace of the Haman Purim costume with a few props. At a party store buy a sword with a belt to wear around the waist. You can add a scepter or gilded walking stick.

Step 4. Add a black cape from a party store, or make one out of silk or velvet black fabric from a fabric store.

Finally, add a little makeup to the Haman Purim costume by painting a curly mustache and using an eye pencil to darken the eyebrows and give them a downward, evil slant.

#4. Mordecai Purim Costume

Mordecai was wise and patient, and the Mordecai Purim costume has to give that impression with simple garments.

Step 1. Mordecai should wear a long robe, which you can find in party stores. You can also dye a girl's nightgown using RIT clothes dye (found in craft stores). Leave the color of the robe to the child to pick.

Step 2. (Optional) At a party store buy a white wig and long white beard. You can also make them out of cotton (not cotton balls), if you can find it at your pharmacy.

Step 3. If the child doesn't want to wear a cumbersome beard or wig, enhance the Mordecai Purim costume with a large but simple looking Yameka (Kippah).

Step 4. Complete the simplicity of the Mordecai Purim costume by tying a thick rope around the waist in place of a belt. If weather permits, the child can wear sandals with this Purim costume.

Though no facial makeup is needed to liven up the Mordecai Purim costume, some accessorizing is recommended. Have Mordecai carry a few old looking books tied in a bundle with a rope. Mordecai can wear an old pair of spectacles (preferably wire-rimmed), or he can carry a lantern with a candle burning inside.

Learn more about Jewish Holidays, Names and Customs. And for costume ideas, make duct tape costumes, make erudite costumes.