Key Difference

• Costume refers to special clothes people wear, usually for dressing up (like at Halloween or in a theater).
• Custom refers to a tradition or a way of doing things that a group of people follow over time.

Now let’s break it down further!

1. Costume

• Meaning: Clothes worn to look like something else, especially for special occasions like Halloween, or by actors in a play or movie.
• When to Use It: Whenever you’re talking about dressing up in special outfits for fun or a performance.

Examples:

• • “She wore a witch costume for the Halloween party.” 🎃
  • “The actors wore historical costumes in the play.”

1. Custom

• Meaning: A common practice or tradition that is followed by a group of people. Customs often reflect cultural or societal norms.
• When to Use It: When referring to something that people in a culture or group usually do, like how they celebrate holidays, greet each other, or eat certain foods.

Examples:

• • “In many countries, it’s a custom to shake hands when you meet someone.” 🤝
  • “One of the customs of this festival is to light candles.”

Visual Aid

Think of it like this:

• Costume = Clothes (like a superhero cape or a pirate outfit 🏴‍☠️).
• Custom = Tradition (like eating cake on your birthday 🎂).

Engaging Analogy

Imagine you’re at a big Halloween party. Some people are dressed as superheroes and witches—those are their costumes. Now, the party happens every year on October 31st, which is a custom many people follow in different countries.

Practice Time!

Let’s do a quick exercise to practice. Fill in the blanks with costume or custom:

1. In Japan, it’s a __________ to take off your shoes before entering someone’s house.
2. She dressed up in a princess __________ for the school play.
3. One of the __________ of Thanksgiving is to eat turkey.
4. The superhero __________ was a big hit at the party.

Answers:

1. In Japan, it’s a custom to take off your shoes before entering someone’s house.
2. She dressed up in a princess costume for the school play.
3. One of the customs of Thanksgiving is to eat turkey.
4. The superhero costume was a big hit at the party.

Pro Tip:

To remember the difference:

• Costume has “cos” in it, just like “clothes”!
• Custom sounds like “habit,” which helps you remember it’s about traditions and ways of doing things.