The non-sewers’ guide to All Saints’ Day costumes

You don’t have to bust the budget or acquire a sewing machine and seamstress skills to turn your modern-day munchkins into memorable saints for All Saint’s Day festivities. Growing up, in preparation for the feast of All Saints, my siblings and I spent hours pouring over illustrated collections of saint biographies looking for inspiration, and then delighted in digging through our costume box with mom to concoct the perfect outfit.

Every year, we managed to come up with six to eight costumes without ever pulling out the sewing machine. So if you’re intimidated by the thought of making several saint costumes in the next month, here is the official non-sewer’s guide to All Saints Day!

Option 1: Storebought

Granted, your local Spirit Halloween or Walmart probably doesn’t have any kid-sized priest or nun costumes. But there are saints from all different walks of life and historical time periods. 

• For boys: A toga works for any of the ancient Roman martyrs like St. Lawrence, St. Tarcisius, or St. Sebastian, and Jedi robes make perfect Franciscan habits for St. Francis or St. Anthony. You can even get a prisoner’s jumpsuit for St. Maximilian Kolbe or a mummy costume for a resurrected Lazarus!
• For girls:  A kimono is perfect for a Japanese martyr like St. Marina of Omura or St. Magdalene of Nagasaki; a princess costume creates St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Margaret of Scotland, or Servant of God Empress Zita; and a rustic peasant dress paired with a headscarf works for St. Bernadette, St. Jacinta, or St. Germaine. 
• Boys and girls: A doctor’s costume would be perfect for either St. Giuseppe Moscati or St. Gianna Molla, and a knight’s costume works for either St. George or St. Joan of Arc. There are also saints and blesseds who wore clothes you probably already have in your kids’ closet, like a red polo for St. Carlo Acutis or hiking boots and a flannel for St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. 

Option 2: T-shirts, robes, and pillowcases

Many saints are portrayed in flowing robes, meaning that an oversized t-shirt you already own can probably be pinned, tucked, and tied to create the same effect. Kendra Tierney from Catholic All Year shares her exhaustive list of t-shirt costumes here. 

In addition, pillowcases can make do for a cloak or nun’s veil. And a plain bathrobe can be the base for anything from an ancient martyr to a bishop.

Option 3: Felt, fabric markers, and iron-on tape

Use a felt or no-fray fabric and a hot-glue gun for costume details like a priest’s collar. Cut some fabric into a robe or makeshift cassock and use iron-on tape to secure the hem and make sure the fabric doesn’t fray. 

For details like the blue stripes on Mother Teresa’s habit or cassock buttons, use fabric markers. This also works for something like a flag with St. George’s Cross for St. George, or a fleur de lis for St. Joan of Arc.

Final advice: Props and makeup go a long way!

Many depictions of the saints include specific symbols associated with their life or patronage! Think lilies and a staff for St. Joseph, roses and a crucifix for St. Therese, keys for St. Peter, or eyeballs for St. Lucy.

To include these symbols, you can use things you have around the house (surely your little St. Francis would love an excuse to bring his favorite stuffed animals to the All Saints Day party), or even involve a baby sibling as St. Agnes’s Lamb, St. George’s dragon, or baby Jesus perched on St. Christopher’s shoulder.

Makeup and face paint can help some of the more hesitant saints-in-making get into the holiday spirit. Put your artist skills to work and include indications of a martyrs’ death for kids who prefer some gory wounds.

Embracing the Church Triumphant

Dressing up for All Saints is a fun way to get kids excited about the Church Triumphant. There’s something about having a hands-on, visceral reminder of the saints that makes them much more real to children. Don’t stop at just playing pretend; use this opportunity to get into character and try to emulate the saint’s virtues. Hopefully opting for an easy no-sew costume helps your family embrace the fun, joy, and spiritual beauty of Hallowtide with minimal distraction and frustration!