There is also a downside to Purim costumes. Parents, many of whom cannot really afford it, annually purchase expensive Purim costumes for their many children. Often these costumes are used just once. Who wants to wear the same costume on two Purims?! Surely it is far better to make your own costume with things found in every house and try to give this homemade costume an original caption. When my brother was at elementary school, the family put together from things found in our house, the clothing worn by a farmer. He was given a large bundle of hay to carry and he wore a caption with the word “HA(y)MAN”. For this he won the fancy dress prize in his class – and the fancy dress cost us nothing!