Celebrate Purim with a costume parade, dance party

Join Victoria’s Jewish community in celebrating Purim with a costume parade and dance party this weekend at the Congregation Emanu-El on Blanshard Street.

Purim is a Jewish religious and cultural celebration that commemorates the delivery of the Jewish people from genocide during the ancient Persian Empire. The story is recorded in the Book of Esther, in the third section of the Hebrew Bible.

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar.

The story of the Book of Esther forms the core of the festival. It’s read aloud twice: once in the evening and again the following morning.

On Saturday, the congregation welcomes Victorians to dance to a reading of the Esther scrolls followed by a David Bowie-inspired Purim party, featuring Ziggy Stardust. Costumes from the 1970s and ’80s are encouraged but not required.

Admission is by donation. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue with a Maariv and Megillah reading, followed by dancing at 9 p.m. Finger foods and snacks will be provided. Attendees are invited to BYOB.

The family-friendly Purim Costume Parade on Sunday features a horse-drawn carriage and Klezmer Band followed by a children’s program. Events include an educational puppet show and an old-fashioned carnival.

Admission to the activities is by donation. Sunday’s event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The parade starts from the Pandora Green (at the corner of Cook Street and Pandora Avenue) and ends at the Congregation Emanu-El, 1461 Blanshard St.

For information, go to congregatioemanuel.ca.