Our family was busy last weekend preparing our All Saints Day costumes. After a little brainstorming, rummaging, and an hour cutting and sewing, the four kids’ costumes are complete. I think they turned out great considering we used only what we had on hand. Every year, I challenge myself to use what is around the house while keeping the costumes as simple as possible.
If you are looking for other ways to celebrate All Saints’ Day in your home, check out my post on 16 Ways to Celebrate All Saints’ Day.
Here is my parade of little saints in their All Saints Day costumes:
St. Maximilian Kolbe
Butchie dressed as St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest who volunteered to die in someone’s place at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Costume: Striped footy-pajamas, prisoner badge, and glasses (these were pretty hard to keep on, but they could also be drawn on).
St. Lucia
Sally at first thought she wanted to be St. Michael, but I convinced her St. Lucia (or St. Lucy) was a better choice. St. Lucia became a martyr during the persecution of Diocletian during the 300’s. She is revered in Scandinavian countries who attribute her intercession to their survival through a terrible famine. She is depicted with candles on her head because it is said she carried food to the Christians hiding in the catacombs and using her hands to hold the tray of food needed to carry her light on her head. I took the time to make her crown out of felt so it can be used for our family’s St. Lucia Day celebration in December as well.
Costume: White dress with sash (Daddy’s undershirt and ribbon), St. Lucia crown (quickly sewn in 45 minutes from felt)
St. Lucia Crown Tutorial is here.
St. Michael the archangel
Apollo wanted to dress as St. George, which was easy enough since we had most of the costume on hand from a previous All Saints’ Day. THEN he changed his mind (oh, sweet children!) and decided St. Michael was his top choice. Thankfully Sts. Michael and George aren’t far off so all we had to do was add some coffee filter wings!
Costume: Gray shirt turned inside out with a felt cross sewn on, sword, helmet (made from half a milk jug and duct tape in his Blue Knights class), wings (cardstock and coffee filters) and shield (not pictured).
St. John Vianney
Jim originally planned to be St. Francis of Assisi, but after realizing we had no brown clothing in the house we resorted to St. John Vianney. We recently read the story of St. John Vianney, a french priest with various charisms who lived in the 1800’s, so it was fitting. Our family loves celebrating St. John Vianney’s feast day in the summer by serving our parish priest in simple ways.
Costume: Graduation robe hemmed to fit (I knew keeping those would come in handy!), Mommy’s white robe and scarf, and a clerical collar sewn from felt.
Now we are all ready to celebrate our All Saints’ Day party we hold yearly with our co-op friends!
Do you dress up for All Saints’ Day? I want to hear about your kids’ All Saints Day Costumes!
You’ll also like reading:
16 Ways to Celebrate All Saints’ Day
Family Devotions Centered Around the Feast Table
