Contrary to our culture’s fixation of the magical side of the holidays, there really is more to Christmas costumes than dressing up like Santa. That’s why we love the use of Biblical costumes as a means to to step back from the hustle and bustle and consider the real reason behind all the celebrating. After all, nothing gets to the heart of Christmas like a nativity reenactment or display.
Reenacting the birth of Christ is something that is meaningful to many people, and the opportunity to act out these scenes is a privilege for many, whether you’re a professional actor, a student in a school play or just a little girl dressed up in a Mary costume.
With that in mind, lets do a quick review of the main characters needed to perform a genuine nativity scene.
The Holy Family: This of course refers to the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and the three of them are the pillar of any nativity reenactment or display. Both a Mary costume and a Joseph costume tend to consist of a full-length tunic or robe, along with a headscarf for Mary and a headpiece or scarf for Joseph. If you’re playing the part of Joseph then don’t forget to let the facial hair grow, or get a costume beard.
Wisemen and Shepherds: The Biblical Magi consisted of Three Kings, or Wisemen, who have been referred to in Western Christianity as Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, and their costumes are slightly more elaborate than the other characters in a nativity scene. Shepherds also traveled to visit the Christ Child, and a shepherd costume can consist of a simple tunic or robe, a headpiece and a shepherds crook.
Manger Animals: While a little more difficult to recruit as a cast member, especially if you’re working on a budget, nativity animals are an important part of the nativity scene. While some professional productions may use real animals in a reenactment, that’s usually not practical for a smaller version. If you’re doing it at home you could try and dress up the cat and dog, or look for some animal costumes or animal ears.
Remember, this special season only comes once a year. So regardless of whether you need a high quality biblical costume for a full scale production, or you’ve just decided to put together a kids biblical costume out of materials you already have, wearing these costumes can be a reminder that the true spirit of the holidays means something more than just exchanging gifts.
Tags: Christmas Costumes
