Our Family traditions
Purim 2010
Purim is not considered a major Holiday, but it still holds a major place in our family traditions.
The sole name of Purim makes me smile, and 2 things immediately spring to my mind : costumes and pastries.
It is the favorite holiday of most French Sephardic kids too, and for several good reasons. First of all, they are allowed to wear a costume, and what’s even better, any kind of costume, and are even allowed to wear it for Shul! Second of all, the synagogue becomes a carnival and even praying is amusing, with all the feet stomping and the yelling each time one hears the name of Haman being pronounced. But what’s make it unique for French Sephardic Kids is the festival of pastries that are waiting for them at home!
The sole name of Purim makes me smile, and 2 things immediately spring to my mind : costumes and pastries.
It is the favorite holiday of most French Sephardic kids too, and for several good reasons. First of all, they are allowed to wear a costume, and what’s even better, any kind of costume, and are even allowed to wear it for Shul! Second of all, the synagogue becomes a carnival and even praying is amusing, with all the feet stomping and the yelling each time one hears the name of Haman being pronounced. But what’s make it unique for French Sephardic Kids is the festival of pastries that are waiting for them at home!
The fast of Esther
Almond cigars
First, everybody in the family, adults as well as children head to the synagogue and even this is amusing, because for once it is allowed to drive there. After the hearing of the Meggilah, we drive directly home, because unlike in the US there is no carnival at the synagogue. Don’t worry, we wouldn’t want to stay anyway, because everybody is in a hurry to get back home and taste a few pastries.We break the fast of Esther first with a nice hearty soup called Bokotof, followed by a few still warm Purim cookies,Haman's Mustaches or almond cigars. To this day, I have yet to meet anybody who tried my cigars and did not love them! In fact, we love them so much that we now break the fast of Kippur with them too. Of course, my Mom wouldn’t want us to eat too many of them that night, because most of the pastries should last until the following day, but really, who could resist?
Michlo Hachmanot
Alice Elbaz-Level, Purim 1975
On the morning of Purim, it was customary in Algeria and in France when I was younger to offer your own pastries to family and friends as Mishloach Manot . Each woman would prepare a plate with some of her best creations, and men or children would go and distribute them to family and friends. Each family would receive a few plates, which would provoke a kind of competition between the women. Each one of us would comment on which woman (my Mom) would make the best pastries, and which one had the worst (Moms I didn't like).
Unfortunately today everyone has become wary of everyone else’s level Kashrut observance, and it is not done anymore. Instead, we offer store-made baskets which certainly don’t provoke the same reactions.
Unfortunately today everyone has become wary of everyone else’s level Kashrut observance, and it is not done anymore. Instead, we offer store-made baskets which certainly don’t provoke the same reactions.
The Purim Seuda
The Purim seuda (meal) must be eaten before nightfall. We usually have at lunchtime, and with always the same menu. After some traditional appetizers, we’ll have a chicken stuffed with pistachios and almonds (we only eat it for Purim),served with egg noodles cooked in its juice, and followed by a festival of pastries that women would have taken hours to bake. Adults will drink red wine with their meal, of course, since it is customary to drink a lot for Purim, but to be honest I never saw anyone in my family get really drunk on that occasion.
After this joyous day, all the women in our family start to stress out. After all, it is only a few weeks before Pessah!
After this joyous day, all the women in our family start to stress out. After all, it is only a few weeks before Pessah!
For more Purim recipes, please download my e-book called Cook It French! Easy recipes for Purim.
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