Purim in London: one last party before lockdown
- Text by Grey Hutton
- Photography by Grey Hutton
Earlier this month, I headed to Stamford Hill in London to photograph ‘Purim’. The famed religious holiday, which takes place over the 9th and 10th March each year, commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from extermination by the Persian Empire.
Despite mounting fears around the Coronavirus crisis, revellers were not deterred. The streets around North London were packed with cars, which are essential for travelling to friends’ and families’ houses for the traditional gift-giving and feasts. Kids were charging down the streets on scooters in full fancy dress, and teens piled into open-back trucks and collected money throughout the neighbourhood.
The mood was jubilant: there were traffic jams, honking horns, and blaring Yiddish music. Traditionally an insular community, it proved to be a wonderful opportunity for locals to meet and celebrate with their orthodox neighbours.
You can see more of Grey Hutton’s work on his official website, or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
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