(by Alegre Savariego,
Israel Antiquities Authority)
It is customary to dress up when celebrating the happy holiday of Purim. The custom, which enhances the joyousness of the festival, is based on folk traditions and the story in the Book of Esther. Dressing up at Purim is not explicitly mentioned in the sources; the assumption is that the custom of dressing up at Purim was also influenced by the traditions of the peoples of Europe, who used to hold masquerade balls in the spring, the period when the holiday of Purim falls.
The custom of dressing up at Purim is very old (dating from the 13th century CE) and was practiced by all of the Jewish communities. In Jewish tradition the connection between a costume and the holiday of Purim is based on two ideas drawn from the Book of Esther: the reversal of fate and the concealment of one's true identify.
According to the story in the scroll, Esther keeps her Jewish identity a secret when she comes to the palace of Ahasuerus (Esther 2:20). The scroll also recounts how fate was overturned in favor of the Jews (Esther 2:22) and it tells about the reversal of fate whereby the dreadful lot that Haman planned for Mordechai ultimately became that of Haman himself.
The mask is simultaneously a means of concealment and discovery. It hides and changes the outer appearance of the person wearing it, while at the same time reveals that person’s true, hidden nature. Symbolically the mask represents a need for protection and concealment.
Rattles, as their name implies, are objects that are used to make noise. One of the commandments at Purim is the reading of the Book of Esther and it is customary to shake the rattle every time Haman’s name is mentioned. When Haman’s name is called out during the reading of the scroll in the synagogue, the worshippers boo, whistle, stomp their feet and of course make a commotion with their rattles.
Clay rattles that contain small stones or other materials for making noise were found in archaeological excavations in the country. The rattles occur in a variety of shapes, some are adorned with a painted or engraved decoration, but all of them produce the same noise that is characteristic of a rattle.