View source for Customs of Purim

==Working on Purim==
# The minhag in some places is not to work on Purim and in some places the minhag is to work, however, one will not see Bracha that one earns from that work.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 696:1, Mishna Brurah 696:1, Chazon Ovadia p. 194. Mishna Brurah 696:4 quotes a dispute whether the phrase that a person won't have a bracha from his work means that his endeavor will fail or that it won't be successful or a failure. </ref> During the night of Purim until HaNetz one is allowed to work.<Ref>Beiur Halacha 696:1 s.v. Ein Osin </ref>
# From nightfall until one reads the megilla he should not do any work or take a nap.<ref> Mishna Brurah 692:10,15 </ref>

==Wearing Costumes on Purim==
# There is a custom to wear [[costumes]] on [[Purim]].<ref> Mahari Mintz Teshuva 15, [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/742340/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Purim_Costumes 10 minute halacha on Purim Costumes] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz </ref> There are many explanations brought down for this minhag.<ref> 
* Siach Yitzchok 380 explains that that we are trying to highlight the fact that Haman hid his hate for the Jewish people when approaching Achashverosh for permission to destroy the Jews.  Hashem responded measure for measure by sending Eliyahu disguised as Charvonah to defend the Jewish people. 
* The Bnei Yissaschar (on Adar 9:1) cites a Maharam Chagiz who quotes the Gemara Megilla 12a.  The Gemora explains that the Jewish people only did things “Lifnim” – hidden – So Hashem as well only did things “Lifnim” – hidden. 
* Eliya Rabba 696 says that since Mordechai was dressed up in the royal clothing, we dress up to commemorate that.
* Torat Hamoadim pg. 267 quotes Rav Meir Mazuz (Sansan Liyair 12) that this custom almost certainly developed with non-Jewish origins and therefore tries to stop it. see Orchot Rabbenu 3: pg. 60:note 104 where he argues the reverse: that the non-Jews took the practice from the Jews. 
* see [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/732687/Rabbi_Eliakim_Koenigsberg/Sichos_Mussar-_The_Connection_Between_Costumes_and_Drinking_on_Purim# The Connection Between Costumes and Drinking on Purim] by Rabbi Eliakim Koenigsberg for an additional explanation
* see [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/742340/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Purim_Costumes 10 minute halacha on Purim Costumes] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz for additional reasons
* see also [http://ohr.edu/4676 Costume Costum] by Rabbi Richards Jacobs 
</ref> 
# Many poskim are against cross-dressing on [[Purim]] as a costume <ref> 
*As a general rule, dressing up in clothing exclusive to the opposite gender is definitely a problem. The Torah expressly forbids such behavior: "A man's attire shall not be on a woman, nor may a man wear a woman's garment." Deuteronomy 22:5
*Mahari Mintz Teshuva 15 writes that he saw many people dress as members of the opposite gender on [[Purim]] in the presence of leading Hachamim, and the Hachamim did not object. He justifies this custom that since one is only dressing up for the [[Purim]] celebration and not to promote and promiscuity it could be permissible. The Mahari Mintz compares this practice to the custom he observed of allowing children to grab candies from each other on [[Purim]]. Even though Halacha clearly forbids taking other people’s possessions even in jest, and considers this outright theft, in the context of the [[Purim]] celebration it is deemed permissible.
* Rama 696:8 writes based on the Mahari Mintz that some are lenient with this and the minhag is to be lenient. The reason is that the issur of cross dressing is because it promotes "Znus" but since on [[Purim]] it is done just for "simcha be'alma" fun the issur does not apply
* Rama additionally records a custom to allow wearing on [[Purim]] clothes that contain Shaatnez on the level of Rabbinic enactment; these enactments were waived for the purpose of the special joy of [[Purim]]. 
* Taz YD 182:4 writes that his father-in-law, the Bach, disagreed with the Rama and brought proof from the Yereim that one shouldn't do so for a wedding, and concludes that anyone who refrains will merit blessing
*Rambam and Rabbi Eliezer of Metz (Sefer Yeraim 98) quoted in Sh"t Yechave Daat 5:50: dressing as a member of the opposite gender is forbidden under all circumstances, even for [[Purim]] or for the joy of bride and groom.
* Rav Chaim Kanievsky says in the name of the Chazon Ish (quoted in Dirshu Mishna Brura 696: note 52) that cross-dressing on Purim is inappropriate even for children. Bayit Hayehudi Volume 4 page 285 agrees. However, the Steipler and Rav Elyashiv (quoted in Dirshu Mishna Brura 696: note 52) were lenient for young  children until the age of Chinuch. 
* Pri Megadim OC Mishbetzot Zahav 696:5 writes that if one is only wearing one women's garment but still clearly looks like a man, he may be lenient. This is quoted by Mishna Brura 696:30. Nevertheless, [http://matzav.com/rav-dovid-feinstein-purim-halacha-tidbits Rav Dovid Feinstein] ruled that wearing a women's wig would constitute a simlas isha and would be prohibited. 
* Chacham Ovadyah Yosef (Chazon Ovadyah [[Purim]] pg 199, Yalkut Yosef pocket-size Moadim pg 494, Sh"t Yabia Omer YD 5:14 and Yechave Daat 5:50) forbids any [[costumes]] that involve cross-dressing on [[Purim]], even for children. see also [http://www.halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDisplayRead.asp?readID=1910 Halacha Yomit]. Rav Menashe Klein (Sh"t Mishneh Halachot 11:563) and [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=513 Rabbi Eli Mansour] agree
* Aruch Hashulchan 696:12 writes that although the Rama justifies the custom, this custom doesn't exist anymore
* see [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/742217/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Crossdressing_on_Purim 10 minute halacha on Crossdressing on Purim] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz </ref> 
# There is a custom to wear [[Yom Tov]] clothing on [[Purim]] starting the night of [[Purim]].<ref>Torat HaMoadim ([[Purim]] 8:1), Ben Ish Chai Parashat Titzaveh Halacha 22, Mishna Brura 695:3 </ref>

==Prayers==
===Al Hanissim===
# The [[prayer]] of al hanissim is inserted into the shmoneh esrei in the beracha of modim and in the beracha of nodeh licha in [[birkat hamazon]] on [[Purim]].<ref> Shulchan Aruch 693:2 </ref> 
# At night, before reading the megilla we say [[al hanissim]].<ref> Rama 693:2. </ref> This is true even if one recites [[arvit]] before nightfall.<ref> Mishna Brurah 693:4 </ref>
# See [[Al Hanissim on Chanukah]]

===[[Hallel]]===
# [[Hallel]] isn't recited on [[Purim]].<ref> Shulchan Aruch 693:3, Mishna Brurah 693:7. The gemara megilla 14a gives three possible reasons: 1. It didn't occur in the [[land of Israel]]. 2. That the megilla serves as its replacement. 3. when the story is over, we were still servants to Achashverosh.  </ref> 
===Tachanun===
# We do not say [[Tachanun]] or Laminatzeach on [[Purim]].<ref> Mishna Brurah 693:8 </ref>
==Weddings on Purim==
# Ashkenazim hold that one shouldn't have a wedding on the day on which one reads the [[Megillah]] (which is the 14th of Adar except for those observing Shushan [[Purim]] in which case its the 15th of Adar).<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 142:9</ref>However, Sephardim hold that if there's a need one may have a wedding on [[Purim]].<ref>Shulchan Aruch 696:8 writes that one may have a wedding on [[Purim]]. Kaf HaChaim 696:51 quotes some achronim who question this but concludes that if there's a need, one may have a wedding on [[Purim]], but one should do the [[Seudat Purim]] before the Chupah. </ref>
==Links==
* [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/56811 Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Purim (Hebrew 5773)]
==Sources==
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[[Category:Holidays]]
[[Category:Purim]]
[[Category:Prayer]]