Jewish children celebrating Purim in fancy dress, take to the streets to sing and dance or just parade in their costumes


Children and youths in fancy dress on the Jewish holiday of Purim in Stamford Hill, London. Stamford Hill is the largest Hasidic Jewish community in Europe. The Purim festival is celebrated by Jews all over the world on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. Children and youths wear fancy costumes and are encouraged to express their joy of life. The story dates back to ancient Persia where Haman - royal vizier to king Ahasuerus (Xerxes of Persia) planned to kill all of the Jews. They were saved by Esther and Mordecai - Haman's cousin and adopted daughter and Mordecai who caused Haman's plans to fail and resulted in his execution. On the day of the festival plays and parodies of Esther’s story are performed, costume contests are held and it is customary to give money to the poor and to share food. A traditional treat are triangular biscuits filled with jam, called Hamantaschen.


Size: 3606px × 5423px
Location: Stamford Hill, Hackney, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © davidxgreen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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