'Eat, drink till you're merry, and enjoy yourselves'
Purim is the Jewish carnival, which takes place in March, almost coinciding with the Christian carnival. A time for good cheer and rejoicing for the Jewish people having been saved from the tyranny of Haman, the 5th century BC Persian Vezir's advisor, thanks to queen Esther's intervention.
The main features of Purim are fancy dress, parties, dancing, singing and the performance of plays. Groups of children used to roam the streets of Jewish neighbourhoods hoping for Purim treats. The fancy dress costumes worn by young and old were mostly improvised; girls would dress up as Esther and boys as Mordochai or Ahashveros. A mask made of paper or cloth was essential, and dressed like this they would roam the streets and go to school dances and plays which were based on the Biblical story and often written in verse.
Some people copied customs from Christian carnival celebrations, such as the “Gamila” and dancing round the May pole. From 1950 and on, young Jewish women in Ioannina would join in both Purim celebrations and the Christian carnival. Prominent and ordinary Christian townspeople joined Jews in their celebrations at home and in taverns serving wine.
The focal point of celebrations in the homes of Ioannina Jews was the ceremonial reading of the Book of Esther, or the miglah, as the Meggilat Esther was called in local dialect. Until 1940, celebrations would include people telling funny stories parodying sacred passages, and also songs. The best known Purim song is a verse narrative in Greek of the story of Esther. It is called Kina Glossa and has verses of five rhyming lines.
Start to speak o tongue
of miracles unsung
Awaken those who inertly recline,
Make them inebriate with wine.
Housewives made special goodies, such as almond bread in the shape of Haman's ears, or koubetta, also called sousamato, toffee sesame seed cake, and Haman's fleas.
