Living Catholicism: Catholic Halloween Costumes

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October 16, 2007

Catholic Halloween Costumes

It's that time of year again - the Eve of All Saint's Day (at one time known as Hallowmas or "Saint's Mass") when children dress up like monsters all too often. But as Catholics we can encourage our kids to use appropriate Halloween costumes that celebrate the dead that deserve to be celebrated!

I received this email from a friend (one of those emails that travels around the internet) and I thought I would share it. So here are some Costume Ideas for kids:

ALTAR BOY: St. Dominic Savio. Died age 15, patron saint of boys, altar boys, & choirboys. Pictured as altar boy or in suit with bow tie.
ANGEL: Adult T-shirt or a dress, sash or belt at waist and sandals. For halo see HALOS. For wings use cardboard, wrapped in tin foil or buy.
   Archangel Gabriel: with a horn at the belt.
   St. Michael: see KNIGHT/ARMOUR (below) or just put sword in belt.
   Cherubim or Seraphim- instrument hanging from belt)
APOSTLE/ FRIAR/ MONK/OLD TESTAMENT: Adult T-shirt, put rope, sash, or belt around the waist, sandals, and there is your costume! Or use brown, gray, or black material, cut a hole in the top when folded in half. Use face paint for beard.
   St. Peter: have keys or net hanging at his waist
   St. Francis: cut out a bird and safety pin it on his shoulder, put on some patches
   St. Brendan: 400-500's, Irish missionary monk in brown habit that went to America before the Vikings or Columbus!
   St. Constantine, St. Benedict and St. Anthony the Abbot (from Egypt) were monks, rosary in belt
   St. Theophylact: Asian Monk, 8th century, established hospices, was imprisoned the last 35 yrs. of his life.
   St. Joseph: foster father of Jesus, carpenter by trade, hang a hammer from the belt
ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST: fake fur or leather & sandals. Perhaps tie a strip of cloth around the forehead.
BEGGAR: St. Benedict Labre/ "Beggar of Rome", homeless (1700's) very shabby clothing
BISHOPS: Large white T-shirt with sash, rope, or belt. Wear a cape. To make a miter (the hat) go to the St. Nicholas Center for a miter pattern, plastic crozier top, and many other costume suggestions for Ol' St. Nick that can be used for any bishop!
   St. Patrick: colors: green, white (shamrocks)
   St. Nicholas: Santa Claus was actually a bishop from Myra: colors white, gold, red
   St. Isidore: of Seville leading candidate for patron saint of computer users & the Internet
   St. Valentine: (Yes, the Feb.14th one!) pictured in reds/whites
CHAINS: St. Vincent de Paul, ragged clothes with chain (captured by Pirates, sold as slave)
DOCTOR: St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Italian. She died in 1962 to save her daughter. She also liked to mountain climb!
FARMER, Spanish: St. Isidore, loose peasant blouse, pants, don't forget a sombrero for the sun! (1070-1130)
GARDENER & SEAMSTRESS: St. Rose of Lima, Dominican-white habit, crown of flowers
KNIGHT/ARMOR/SOLDIERS: Buy plastic armor or make from cardboard & tin foil or gold/silver Poster-board, tin cans.
   St. Joan of Arc, St. George and the Dragon, St. Gengulphus
   St. Michael the Archangel: buy feather wings or make with cardboard with tin foil over them
   Maurice: (3rd century) Officer in a legion of Christian soldiers from Upper Egypt Roman soldiers:
   St.Sebastian was officer of the Imperial Roman army, and captain of the guard.
   Acacius was centurion in the imperial Roman army.
   Adrian was an officer at the court of Nicomedia.
   Martin joined the Roman imperial army at age 15. Encountering a beggar he cut his heavy officer's cloak in half, and gave it to him. Later he had a vision of Christ wearing the cloak.
   Theodore: Roman general and covert Christian during a time of persecution
   Eustachius: Pagan Roman general, converted to Christianity following a hunting trip during which he saw a glowing cross between the antlers of a stag
MAID: St. Zita: Italy, servant at age 12--- apron, simple dress, hair kerchief
MARY, queen of all saints: Any combination of white & blue. (Dress or adult T-shirt, sash, & a shawl or piece of material for a veil over head and shoulders.)
   -Our Lady of Guadalupe- She appeared looking like an Aztec princess. Wear a white flowery dress, a black sash (sign of pregnancy) & a blue veil with stars on it.
MEXICAN INDIAN: Saint Juan Diego, our Lady of Guadalupe's image is still on his tilma. Use rough material such as canvas (or use poncho) tie around neck, attach a picture of Our Lady on it.
MOUNTAIN CLIMBER:
   Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati: Italian. He spent his fortune on the needy and visited the sick; during this ministry he contracted the disease that killed him in 1925. Nicknamed "Terror" due to his practical jokes. Smoked a pipe!
   St. Gianna Beretta Molla: Italian. Doctor. She died in 1962 to save her daughter. She also liked to mountain climb!
NATIVE AMERICAN: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Lily of the Mohawks), daughter of Mohawk chief and Christian Algonquin mother. Dress as a Native American. Cut fringe on adult brown T-shirt. Add a wooden cross around neck.
NUNS/SISTERS: For habit, cut a hole at the top of some material folded over or use an adult T-shirt. Wear turtleneck underneath, use a square of material over the head as a veil, wear crucifix.
   St. Teresa: of Avila. Brown habit. Carmelite, Doctor of the Church!
   St Brigid: of Ireland- often pictured in Celtic colors, began life as slave & heard St. Patrick preach
   St. Scholastica: (black habit) Twin sister of St. Benedict often seen with a crosier, if child is little, use a walking cane
   St. Therese: of Lisieux, France (the little flower) Carmelite at age 15. (Brown habit, white cape, black veil)
   St. Colette: Poor Clare, France (habit of patches) restored rules of St. Clare, named after St. Nicholas.
   St. Clare: of Assisi, friend of St. Francis, (grey, brown, white) patron saint of television
   Blessed Mother Teresa: of Calcutta (white, blue stripes along edge) missionary to the poor & sick
NURSE: Bertilla Boscardin: Sister that cared for wounded Italian soldiers.
PEASANT: St. Bernadette: Lourdes, France, saw Our Lady: dark skirt, apron over the top, blouse and veil over the hair. The little children of Fatima, Portugal, who saw the Blessed Mother: Blessed Francisco: trousers, white shirt, cap, and perhaps a jacket. Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Lucia could wear the same as Bernadette.
PRIEST/BROTHER:
   St. Ignatius of Loyola: Spanish, founded the Jesuits (often seen in black)
   St. John Bosco- He wore a black cassock. Perhaps use a large black T-shirt, with a white turtleneck underneath. He founded the Salesians to work with and educate boys. (We have a relic of him in our altar in the church.)
   St. John Mary Vianney- (or Cure of Ars) Pictured in white, 2 black strips below his neck & red stole
   St Philip Neri: Founded Oratorians: wear black T-shirt or sweater with white collared shirt underneath. (Make sure the collar sticks out) Wore 3 pointed black hat, make from black foam sheets or Posterboard.
   St. Martin de Porres: Dominican brother, son of Spanish Knight & black freed-woman from Panama. He helped the sick & poor, patron saint of interracial justice. White robe with black on top, like a T.
PRISONER: St. Maximillian Kolbe, blue striped prison uniform & glasses, priest died at Auschwitz so a man with a family could live.
ROYALTY: For any royal saint, buy or make a crown (cardboard with tin foil, gold/silver Poster-board)
   GIRL Princess dresses are everywhere!
   St. Queen Elizabeth of Hungary: carry a basket of bread
   St. Margaret: Queen of Scotland, Scottish tartan clothing.
   St. Bathildis: Queen of France
   St. Adelaide: Queen of Germany and Italy
   St. Helena: First Christian queen of Ukraine, lived 879-969 (relics found to be incorrupt)
   St. Isabella: Princess of Spanish King, then Queen of Portugal (peacemaker-1200's)
   St. Ursula: Legendary princess, the daughter of a Christian British king
   Queen Ester: (Old Testament) Jewish
   BOY Good King Wenceslas: Bohemia. He could also wear armor along with his crown.
   King Casimir: Poland (15th century, add a lily)
   King Louis IX: France (13th century-crowned at age 12) Shown wearing: a crown of thorns
   King Edward: England, the last of the Saxon kings
   King Solomon and King David (Old Testament garb)
SHEPHARD/SHEPHARDESS: both could carry a crook (if child is little, use a walking cane)
   David: as a young boy, sash around the head, sandals, slingshot & bag for pebbles at waist
   St. Patrick: of Ireland, as shepherd slave when boy
   St. Germaine's: skirt, shawl, head kerchief (right hand deformed, from France)
   St. Genevieve: saved the city of Paris from Attila the Hun
ST.VERONICA: (Who wiped the face of Jesus.) Wear a dress or adult T-shirt tied at the waist, sandals, & veil. (Attach a picture of Jesus' face to veil.)
TOGA: St. Helen. Married co-regent of the Western Roman Empire led group to Holy Land & found the True Cross. (326)
VIKING: Edith of Polesworth: Viking queen, 900's
HALO: Use gold pipe cleaners to bend into halos to put on any saint! Or gold, star, bendable wrapping ribbon wire. These are available from Beverley's Fabrics. The party stores also carry halos.

This is also an excellent opportunity for your children to learn more about the Saints (particularly the one they are dressed up as). They are sure to get questions if they go out as a Saint!

God bless,
Jay

Posted by jay at October 16, 2007 7:44 PM