Soulard Mardi Gras, now the second-largest carnival celebration in the U.S., began in 1980 when five friends threw a house party. The University City Purim re-enactment shares several similarities. Participants dress up in costumes and the highlight of the event is a parade. And, the Purim gathering was dreamed up by a few friends.
“Phyllis Shapiro and I were talking one day and we came up with the idea and planned it together,” said Rose Ann Ariel, who still plans the re-enactment 21 years later. “My husband Mickey was Haman and Phyllis Shapiro’s husband Jack was Mordechai. We had to convince our husbands to play the parts. They were good sports and agreed.”
The Purim tradition began in 2003 and has been going strong ever since (with the exception of the Covid-impacted 2021). The 2024 re-enactment steps off from Gay Ave. and Cornell Ave. at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. Security will be provided and costumes are encouraged.
“We had no idea that the Reenactment would become a St Louis Purim tradition,” Ariel said. “Also, we never announce who play Haman and Mordecai beforehand. It adds to the fun for people to try and guess when they have on makeup and costumes.”
Whoever is assigned to portray Mordechai should be prepared to mount a horse. That assignment fell to Jeff Kanefield in 2023. He had previously never ridden on a horse in royal attire.
“However I am extremely comfortable on a horse having been around horses as a child at summer camps as well at our family farm,” Kanefield said. “My advice for anyone who is fortunate to ride the streets of University City on a horse would be to embrace the moment. Try and engage with the kids and neighbors. It’s a joyous occasion so have fun.”
