Since nobody else seems to want to tell you,
Next week is the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Since many places have the day off for the holiday, they usually have school/workplace parties for the holiday a few days before the actual holiday.
The holiday is traditionally celebrated with dressing in costume, singing, dancing, eating triangle-shaped filled cookies, reading of the Book of Esther, and excessive drinking. It is extremely common (in Israel) to see people in costume or fancy face paint walking about in the days leading up to Purim and on Purim itself.
The holiday is actually rather pro-2nd amendment.
Thousands of years ago, when the Persian empire (Iran) tried to wipe out all of their Jews by passing a law making it legal to kill Jews and take their property, they we saved after a new law was passed allowing the Jews to take arms from all local armories and defend themselves.
Unfortunately, many Jews completely forgot that lesson in just a few short centuries.
A very good explanation. Thanks!