As Halloween and All Saints’ Day approach, it’s time to think beyond the usual costumes and embrace the opportunity to celebrate the rich tapestry of Catholic tradition.
From lesser-known martyrs to beloved patron saints, why not honor the saints who inspire us? Not only will you stand out in a crowd, but you could even find a way to evangelize by sparking meaningful conversations about faith.
Here are 10 creative and on-trend ideas for Halloween/All Saints Day 2024:
1. For the meme maven – St. John Paul II
Fancy yourself a meme expert? Get your rightful dues and sport this famous photo of St. John Paul the Great in a playful moment.
2. For the makeup artist – Stigmata
A pro when it comes to makeup art? Dress up as any of these saints who famously carried the wounds of Christ, the stigmata. The location of these wounds vary by saint, so do your research when you choose a saint!
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Rita
St. Catherine of Ricci
St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
St. Faustina Kowalska
3. For the prop fan – Divine Mercy
Grab a frame, some white and red fabric, and you’re the image of the Divine Mercy!
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4. For the jokester – The Nativity
Mary is a classic to dress up as there are so many versions of her to choose from! If you usually go for the more silly costumes, why not give this Nativity couples costume a go? Simple to make and guaranteed to get laughs (and maybe “Best Costume” award?).
5. For the thrifter – St. Gianna Beretta Molla
If you’re a thrift store regular, you know exactly what we mean by “thrift store wedding dress.” Us ladies have seen those vintage ivory gowns hanging there, feeling an odd compulsion to buy one—even though we know we’ll never use it.
Well, now there’s a reason to get that dress! Put it on and transform yourself into St. Gianna Beretta Molla on her wedding day in 1955.
6. For the Halloween enthusiast – Spooky Patrons
Believe it or not, there are a handful of saints that are patrons of all things spooky. Some are patrons of the occult, while St. Columba may have been (per legend) a witch before her conversion. Have fun researching these Halloween-appropriate saints and getting creative with your costume:
St. Cyprian
St Columba of Sens
St. Andrew
St. Albert the Great
St. Lucian and St. Marcian
7. For those looking for gore – Martyr
We Catholics know that our history is pretty gorey. While it’s not for everyone, Catholics aren’t faint-hearted, knowing the long list of martyrs and the ways they were killed.
St. John the Baptist is a classic choice for this costume. You can keep it simple or get creative by adding makeup effects to hint at his beheading, or even craft a “head on a platter” prop to add some *dramatic* flair.
8. For the DIY-er – Saint Catherine Labouré
We don’t know how you go about making one of these fabulous head coverings, but the DIY-er’s will definitely figure it out.
9. For the Jane Austen fanatics – St. Emily de Vialar
For all the girls inspired by the fashion in Austen films, dress up as St. Emily de Vialar! Before she became a nun and founded an order, she was a young woman in the 1800s, when this *demure* style was the norm for women.
10. For the social media trends freak – Knight
If you’re always up to date on the trends sweeping social media (or simply just interested in this current trend), gnomes and knights have been dominating the feeds. Since we don’t know of any saint connections to gnomes, we’re proposing dressing as one of the most famous knights, St. George.
Additional Resources
Wondering if Catholics should celebrate Halloween? We dive into this in our article, “Can Catholics Celebrate Halloween?
Looking for more practical guides and resources like this? Check out our list on ways to show your parish priest appreciation, and our guide to establishing a daily prayer routine.
For even more great Catholic resources, check out our podcast, which features talks from our SEEK conference, and our YouTube channel for videos and more!
Sign up for SEEK25 next January in Washington, D.C., and Salt Lake City; registration is now open!
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