Why do we wear costumes on Purim?

It could be because of the theme of hiding in Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther). How many examples of hiding can you find in Esther? Feel free to be creative with your answers. My husband named quite a few.

Happy Shushan Purim. Shushan Purim is the day after Purim, and it is celebrated in cities that had a wall at the time of Joshua. That is, a long, long, long, long time ago. Today that means in the city of Jerusalem, with Hebron and Tiberias and others as possibly walled during the time of Joshua (so they read double megillah in those cities). One such double Purim place (with a famous blogger) is Shiloh.

Yesterday, when it was warmer and almost spring-like, I saw many birds on my block, including a hawk flying low. Today there are big, white fluffy flakes coming day outside my window. By necessity (I need to pick my kids soon, early dismissal due to the weather), this will be a short post. Note the bill and the plume of the head (thanks, Michelle and Lorri).

You can see the drawing of the cardinal on last week’s post. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take out the paints.

For more Nature Notes, visit Rambling Woods:

Go see the latest JPIX and be prepared to click links. Go, now, click! And leave a comment (suggestion: “Thank You!”). It’s the upside down just in time for Purim edition.

To participate in the next JPIX, the Jewish Photo Blogger’s Carnival, submit your link. I will be posting it in June.

This was my favorite dance at my daughter’s ballet recital (not counting the ballet, tap and jazz dances she performed, of course). It seemed like a fitting ballet for this time of year; on Sunday Jews around the world celebrate the holiday of Purim, and dressing up in costume is part of the tradition.

For more photos in sepia, visit Sepia Scenes:

My daughter and her dancer friends want you to know that her mom should have told you last week to submit links for the JPIX Blog Carnival that will appear tomorrow on Pesky Settler’s blog. JPIX is the blog carnival for Jewish Photo Bloggers (about Jewish topics, but one can stretch this to nature, everyday living and food photos); everyone is welcome to enjoy the show.

Please also check out:

• Kosher Cooking Carnival #51 by Adventures in Mama Land
• Art Institute of Chicago: A Photo Essay (by Mottel)

Purim is a holiday in which we read the Book of Esther (twice, once at night, once during the day), give charity to the poor, share food baskets with friends, wear costumes (at least many of the kids do and a few brave adults) and eat a feast in the afternoon. My daughter made this drawing yesterday to put on oatmeal containers that will be given to her friends (see last year’s decorated containers).

Can you name any of the characters in her drawing? Here is the Book of Esther.

For more posts with a little or a lot of red, visit Ruby Tuesday: