Culture：Too early for Halloween
【明報專訊】The Smarties join Jews in Israel in celebrating Purim (普珥節), one of their traditional festivals. They dress up in colourful costumes. However, someone takes it for another festival.
“ Eason: It isn't Halloween yet. Isn't it funny for you to dress up as you do? Haha! ”
“ Pat: We're celebrating Purim, not Halloween! ”
“ Eason: Come on! I'd like to have some Halloween candies! ”
“ Man : Hey man! You've left your pumpkin box over there. ”
“ Eason: It is...not...mine... ”
“ Bill: I've just heard him say "Happy Halloween" to everyone in the street. ”
■Culture tips
Purim is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar (亞達月) in the Jewish calendar. The days usually fall in March. Purim commemorates the time when Queen Esther's courage saved the Jewish people living in Persia from extermination. Purim has a carnival-like atmosphere, with people dressing up as Queen Esther or the Persian King or in other fancy costumes. Jews do not eat or drink on the evening before Purim, but they feast on the festival.
(See photo C)
■English highway﹕ dress up
If you dress up, you wear special clothes for fun. If you dress another up, you put special clothes on the other.
e.g. The kids in the party dress up as Disney characters.
■Glossary
costume (n) 服裝
commemorate (v) 紀念
extermination (n) 滅絕
feast (v) 盡情享用(食物)
[Smarties' Power English Vol 184]
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