[Avodah] Culturally questionable Purim costumes

[Arie Folger]

What are the parameters of 'huqot hagoyim. Shul'han 'Arukh YD 178
includes among the prohibition of 'huqot hagoyim the prohibition to
wear costumes specifically associated with idol worship.

Over on my blog, I posted about some weird Purim costumes. I assure
you I am not inappropriately posting to Avodah, having a headstart on
'ad delo yada'. The issue is that the two costumes I show, both
recently photographed, are really Christian costumes, but somehow
found their way into the Jewish Purim arsenal.

This reminds me of the times when Sukkot decorations were leftover
X-Mas lots. Some of that stuff is innocuous, and since they were not
muqdash le'avodah zara', and are not clearly connected to some other
religion, most of those are OK (though my wife once made me
incorporate a home made menorah in one, to be megayer that particular
decoration that had too much red and green). The reason is that these
are not, as per the SA's language (ad loc.) *meyu'hadim* to the idol
worshipers. Pretty shiny streamers and stars are not particular to any
specific culture. (or is it? Correct me if I am wrong in YOUR
opinion.)

But what about dress that is more explicitly tied to foreign religious
celebrations or religious orders, are these not violations of 'huqot
hagoyim? Is it sufficient that in their neighborhood they are unaware
of the Christian connection, or do they remain assur since most of
their non-Yerushlami neighbors, ten blocks down, would recognize
these?

At issue are two costumes, one of girls dressed as nuns, but with a
magen david (and upon reflection, that means they are likely not
'Hareidim) and a family in Meah She'arim all dressed up in red
costumes with white trimmings, reminiscent of some famous fictional
character associated with gifts at some major Christian holiday. I am
operating here under the reasonable assumption that they are unaware
of the Christian connection.

Can one unknowingly transgress 'huqot hagoyim, meaning, when knowing
the halakha but not knowing of the cultural connection? Does it matter
when the clothing in question is not associated with AZ in that
neighborhood?

Thoughts? Halakhic arguments here on the thread, humorous comments
over on my blog: http://ariefolger.wordpress.com/ .

Comments denigrating any particular demographic for their culturally
sheltered lifestyle will neither be tolerated here, nor there.

A freilekh'n Pierem,
--
Arie Folger,
Recent blog posts on http://ariefolger.wordpress.com/
* Weird Purim Costumes
* From Skinhead to Orthodox Jew
* Kommender Vortrag am 7. März
* Should Our Ancestors Have Needed a Mishkan?
* How German Built the Hebrew Language
* Is the New Israel Fund Indirectly Responsible for the Goldstone
Blood Libel? (en & de)



-- 
Arie Folger,
Recent blog posts on http://ariefolger.wordpress.com/
* Weird Purim Costumes
* From Skinhead to Orthodox Jew
* Kommender Vortrag am 7. März
* Should Our Ancestors Have Needed a Mishkan?
* How German Built the Hebrew Language
* Is the New Israel Fund Indirectly Responsible for the Goldstone
Blood Libel? (en & de)