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.
Latest on Huck
The party starters fighting to revive Stonehenge’s Solstice Free Festival
Free the Stones! delves into the vibrant community that reignites Stonehenge’s Solstice Free Festival, a celebration suppressed for nearly four decades.
Written by: Laura Witucka
Hypnotic Scenes of 90s London Nightlife
Legendary photographer Eddie Otchere looks back at this epic chapter of the capital’s story in new photobook ‘Metalheadz, Blue Note London 1994–1996’
Written by: Miss Rosen
The White Pube: “Artists are skint, knackered and sharing the same 20 quid”
We caught up with the two art rebels to chat about their journey, playing the game that they hate, and why anarchism might be the solution to all of art’s (and the wider world’s) problems.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The Chinese youth movement ditching big cities for the coast
In ’Fissure of a Sweetdream’ photographer Jialin Yan documents the growing number of Chinese young people turning their backs on careerist grind in favour of a slower pace of life on Hainan Island.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The LGBT Travellers fundraising for survival
This Christmas, Traveller Pride are raising money to continue supporting LGBT Travellers (used inclusively) across the country through the festive season and on into next year, here’s how you can support them.
Written by: Percy Henderson
The fight to save Bristol’s radical heart
As the city’s Turbo Island comes under threat activists and community members are rallying round to try and stop the tide of gentrification.
Written by: Ruby Conway