Why is There a Custom to Dress Up On Purim?
1) Chazal explain that the threat on Purim was not really a threat at all. It was only the appearance of a threat, for in the end, the Jews were not exterminated. Many years before the time of Purim, Nevuchadnetzar, the Babylonian ruler who destroyed the First Beis HaMikdosh, forced the Jews to bow to his idol (Doniel 3:3). The Jews did so, but only because they were coerced, and only for appearance’s sake. In their hearts they were loyal to Hashem.
As punishment for this sin, middah k’neged middah, as a justified punishment, Hashem made only an appearance of a threat at the time of Purim (Megillah 12a). Just as the hearts of the Jews at Nevuchadnetzar’s idol were with Hashem, so too the heart of Hashem was with the Jews on Purim, and no calamity resulted. We dress up on Purim, often in the grab of goyim, to show that even though we sometimes sin and act like goyim, it is only an outward appearance. In truth, our hearts are always with Hashem. (Bnei Yissoschar, Ma’amarei Chodesh Adar 9)
2) When Chazal inquire (Chullin 139b) as to where is a hint to Purim in the Torah, they answer that the pasuk: ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני – “And I [Hashem] will surely hide My face” (Devorim 31:18) refers to Purim. Purim represents the first time that the Jews recognized that Hashem would “hide His face” by no longer performing the overt supernatural miracles that were commonplace in the era prior to the destruction of the First Beis HaMikdosh. Since the destruction, Hashem is constantly involved behind the scenes, manipulating seemingly natural events and performing hidden miracles.
In view of the fact that the Purim miracle came about through Hashem’s hidden face, we similarly hide our faces on Purim by donning disguises. (Otzar Taamei HaMinhagim pg. 455)
3) Purim is a day dedicated to giving tzedokah, and helping the poor, who may be embarrassed to ask for money. When the poor put on disguises so that they cannot be recognized, it is easier for them to request and receive tzedokah. (Otzar Taamei HaMinhagim pg. 455)
4) We dress up in commemoration of the many wardrobes, disguises, and mistaken identities depicted in the Megillah that contributed to the manifestation of the Purim miracle, including, but not limited to:
- Esther not revealing her ancestry.
- Mordechai hiding the fact that he knew seventy languages from Bigsan and Seresh.
- Mordechai tearing his clothing and putting on sackcloth.
- Esther sending Mordechai clothing to change out of the sackcloth.
- Esther donning her royal robes to enter the throne room.
- Haman dressing Mordechai in royal robes to be paraded through the streets.
- Haman’s daughter pouring refuse on her father’s head when she mistook Haman for Mordechai in the parade, because Haman was wearing servants’ clothing and Mordechai was wearing the royal robes.
- Eliyahu HaNavi disguising himself as Charvonah and recommending to Achashveirosh that Haman be hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordechai.
- Mordechai being clothed in royal robes when he was promoted following Haman’s demise.
- The Jews being clothed in the Shechinah when they reaccepted the Torah on Purim.
- Hashem “hiding His face” during Purim, causing the miracle to occur in a hidden manner. (Otzar Taamei HaMinhagim p. 455-456)
6) When the Jews took the upper hand at the time of Purim, many non-Jews disguised themselves in Jewish clothing, because they feared Jewish retribution. In commemoration of this element of the great miracle, the custom developed to don disguises on Purim. (Sefes Emes, Likutim on Megillas Esther)
7) We dress up because the fun of doing so adds to the simcha of the day (Rav Tzvi Cohen, Purim V’Chodesh Adar 4:12).
Why Is There a Custom to Eat Seeds on Purim?
1) We eat seeds on Purim in commemoration of a miracle that took place shortly before the Purim story. The first perek of Sefer Doniel describes how Nevuchadnetzar, the Babylonian king who destroyed the First Beis HaMikdosh was looking to hire the wisest men in the world to be his advisors. A group of candidates were called, including Doniel and several other Jews. However, before they could come before Nevuchadnetzar, they were required to be fattened up so that they would be physically fit for the king’s...
