This Purim, I’m Going Full Nostalgia with My Costume

Because nothing sparks joy quite like reliving the best (and cringiest) moments of our childhoods.

I’ve never been the kind of person who buys a store-bought Purim costume. Growing up, my costumes were always homemade, last-minute, and held together with duct tape, safety pins, and wishful thinking. One year, I went as a baseball player, which meant putting on white sweats, a white shirt, and a Dodgers jacket. Another year, my mom sewed a few pieces of fabric together so that my sister and I could go as clowns (see above photo for evidence).

But some of the best costumes weren’t mine—they were the ones my friends and I cobbled together at the last second, using whatever we had lying around. The ones that made people laugh, that started conversations, that immediately brought back memories.

So this year, as the world feels more chaotic than ever, I’m choosing to bring back the energy and joy of a simpler time. Instead of chasing trends, I’m embracing nostalgia—something that reminds me (and everyone else) of when Purim meant sugar highs, brown paper mishloach manot bags, and the eternal debate over whether wearing a costume to school was worth it.

And honestly? I think you should too.

Why a Nostalgic Purim Costume?

There’s something about Purim that already feels nostalgic—maybe it’s the hamantaschen you’ve been eating every year since preschool, or the megillah reading that still makes you instinctively shake a grogger at the sound of Haman’s name. Nostalgia brings people together, and Purim is the perfect excuse to embrace it.

Also, let’s be real—nothing gets more compliments than a costume that makes people say, “Oh man, I remember that!”

Last year, I spotted someone who 100% nailed the classic Jewish youth group look—baggy khakis, a USY convention T-shirt from 1998, and a wrist full of camp and retreat bracelets that had clearly never been removed. They were even carrying a songbook and periodically breaking into Lo Alecha Ham’lacha Ligmor with a group of people who definitely had way too much ruach energy for a Wednesday night. That’s what a good nostalgic costume does—it makes people laugh, reminisce, and feel like they’re part of something shared.

So if you’re still looking for a Purim costume, consider going for something that brings you (and everyone around you) back in time.

Some of the Best Nostalgic Costumes I’ve Seen (and Some I’m Considering)

The key to a great throwback costume is picking something that immediately transports people back to a specific moment—their childhood, a Jewish cultural experience, or an era that just hits differently when you see it again. Here are a few of the best ones I’ve seen (or thought about doing myself):

1. The ‘90s / 2000s Bar Mitzvah Kid

Ah, the era of giant, oversized suits, frosted tips, and glow sticks from the DJ’s prize table. This costume is pure gold if you lean into it—slicked-back hair, a shiny blue button-down shirt (untucked, obviously), a lanyard with your fake “VIP” pass, and maybe a pack of tissues from that one emotional candle-lighting speech. Bonus points if you add a burnt CD labeled DJ Jeff’s Bar Mitzvah Mega Mix 2003.

Why it works: Everyone in their 20s and 30s has been to this bar mitzvah, and the nostalgia hits instantly.

2. The Classic Jewish Camp Counselor

If you spent every summer at Jewish camp, this one is an easy win. All you need is an old camp T-shirt, cargo shorts, a whistle, and that slightly sunburned, exhausted look of someone who has spent too much time enforcing the buddy system. Carry around a clipboard with a fake schedule (“Lifeguarding at 10, Ultimate Frisbee at 11, Lanyards & Friendship Bracelets at 12”) and shout “LET’S GO, RUACH!” every 10 minutes.

Why it works: It’s instantly recognizable to anyone who ever went to camp, and you’ll get a lot of people asking, “Wait, which camp did you go to?”

3. Hebrew School Trouble-Maker

We all knew that kid in Hebrew school who spent every Sunday morning trying to sneak out early, bribing other kids for snacks, and doodling in the margins of their siddur instead of paying attention. Honestly, some of us were that kid.

For this one, wear jeans and a wrinkled temple sweatshirt, carry a battered Torah Aura textbook with half the pages missing, and hold a scribbled note from the teacher that says, “PLEASE stop talking during the Four Questions practice.” Bonus points if you carry a bag of contraband Dunkaroos from the snack table.

Why it works: Every Jewish kid remembers Hebrew school, whether they loved it or tried to avoid it at all costs.

4. Your Own Childhood Purim Costume (Recreated as an Adult)

We’ve all seen those old Purim photos—some adorable, some deeply embarrassing. But what if you brought one of them back?

If your mom once dressed you as Mordechai with a full cotton-ball beard? Do it again. If you were a homemade hamantaschen in kindergarten? Recreate it, but bigger. If you still have that old Superman kippah from when you were five? Dust it off and build a costume around it.

Why it works: It’s personal, funny, and a guaranteed conversation starter—especially if you bring a side-by-side photo of the original.

5. Classic Jewish Pop Culture Throwback

There’s a ton of Jewish pop culture nostalgia to pull from. Some of my favorites:

• Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof (vest, hat, lots of hand gestures)
• Krusty the Clown from The Simpsons (if you’re ready to commit to face paint)
• Adam Sandler in literally any ‘90s movie (oversized plaid shirt, goofy voice)
• Goldberg from The Mighty Ducks (hockey jersey, goalie gloves, pure chaotic energy)

Why it works: The second someone recognizes it, you’re best friends for the night.

Why We Should All Go Retro This Purim

Purim is a holiday about joy—about embracing the ridiculous, celebrating together, and not taking yourself too seriously. And what’s more fun than a costume that makes people laugh, reminisce, and swap stories from their own childhood?

So this year, instead of buying a store-bought costume, dig into your past. Think about:

• What made you laugh as a kid?
• What was the cringiest or most iconic Jewish experience of your childhood?
• What costume would make your childhood self say, “Yes. This is perfect.”

I promise, the best costume ideas are the ones you already lived.

What nostalgic Purim costume would you bring back? Let me know—I need more ideas!