New clothes before every Yom Tov?
Absolutely not. I don’t really enjoy shopping, I’m always worried about the expense, I don’t have an eye for fashion, and tzniyus Shabbos clothing is a real challenge to find. I also really feel that while of course we need to look and feel good, simchas Yom Tov can be achieved in other ways as well. For example, we try to buy the girls inexpensive jewelry before Yom Tov.
We used to aim to buy new clothes for Pesach and again for Tishrei, but because tzniyus Shabbos clothes are so hard to find, my kids wouldn’t necessarily find something then. So if they didn’t get something new for Pesach, they could get for Shavuos instead… or for a simchah… or stam during the year if they found something appropriate. It’s so hard to find something that if they do find something good, we’re likely to buy it, no matter when it is.
For the last two years when we were in almost constant lockdown here in Australia, we also deliberately chose to spend less on clothes and more on toys, books and games to help entertain the kids over yom tov. New Yom Tov clothes just wouldn’t have had the same effect.
—Leah Lowy
Usually only before Pesach, when a generous family member sponsors our kids’ clothing. If the kids need new clothes because their old ones were too small, I would buy them something new for a different chag.
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