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ALTERNATIVE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Celebrate All Saints’ Day while joining in on the neighbourhood Halloween fun! Introduce costumes of Biblical figures or symbols (star of Bethlehem, 10 Commandments) or choose from the huge collection of Saints (appropriately celebrating the eve of All Saints’ Day).

Noah’s Ark: Make a boat out of a card board box. Ensure that there is a hole in the bottom of the box, large enough for the child to fit their legs and waist through.

Extra cardboard can be used to make smooth sides, joined together at one end to form the bow and attached to the sides of the box. Extra cardboard can be used to square off the chest and shoulders into the “cabin” of the boat. String, ribbon or twine secured through holes in the box help to hang the boat in place, supported by the child’s shoulders and “floating” at the child’s waist. Fill the remaining space of the box with stuffed animals. The child can be dressed up as Noah, sporting a cotton or yarn beard and a robe.

Mother Mary, Angel, St. Joseph, St. Nicholas, St. Peter, an Apostle (fisherman)... (Most saint costumes can begin with this simple sleeveless gown...just try and find a shirt or sweater of matching colour to wear underneath, and accessorize appropriately: white gown with light blue cape or hood, aluminum foil crown, etc. for Mary) Make a plain robe or dress by cutting two appropriately sized rectangles. Sew 3 sides of the rectangles together, leaving a generous centred opening at the top (shorter side) and at the top of both long sides. Turn inside out to hide seams.

Mary: white gown with light blue cape or hood, crown, baby Jesus, rosary bead belt,...

Angel: white gown, cardboard wings or fabric stretched on wire wings, halo,...

St. Joseph: brown robe, rope belt with tools attached (or neutral coloured toolbelt)...

St. Nicholas: red robe, cardboard Bishop’s miter covered with red material or paint, staff (broom handle with curled end formed out of foil...

St. Peter: either a robe and large cardboard keys wrapped with foil OR a large cardboard or stuffed material ROCK and possibly keys attached

An Apostle: fisherman attire or robe, large nets, sandals, basket with material or paper mache’ loaves and fish (basket used also to collect candy)

Kerry and Richard Brine of Ottawa, Ontario made a St. Francis costume for their son Isaiah, to go to their parish All Saints' Day Party. The brown monk’s robe was cut from a large square piece of material, folded diagonally. A slit was cut out of the centre of the fold to fit the head. Two small triangles were cut from the middle of the 2 other sides of the triangle and the material was sewn inside out, leaving the openings for the head and arms. Two of the 4 small triangles left by these cuts were pieced together to form a pointed hood, attached to the opening for the head (cut from the fold). Unfortunately, the directions are just too complicated to pass on! A rope, thick cord or belt is used to tighten the robe around the waist. This is a very versatile costume which can be adapted for many different Saints belonging to religious orders!

Used with Permission from: "A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families"

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