The Top 10 Biblical Characters To Dress Up As At Halloween...er...Harvest Parties
The emphasis on Halloween for me as a youth was on the "Hallow" as in "Hallowed be Thy name."
I grew up in an Assemblies of God background, which didn't even believe in Boy Scouts but had Royal Rangers instead. Think Pioneers, but instead of red, we wore green and instead of quoting Marx and Lenin, we quoted Peter and Paul, chapter and verse, but definitely no Mary. Catholics were, and are, verboten for Assemblies of God youth.
We had "harvest parties" instead of "Halloween parties" and didn't dress up as devil and witches but as prophets and prophetesses? Dutiful wives of prophets? Sarah? Noah's unnamed wife? I do remember girls were in attendance as I flirted with them on the hay rides after the parties, but for the life of me, I don't remember who they came dressed up as.
When I asked my sister about strong female biblical characters, she listed Mary, of course, Ruth and Queen Esther. My wife, though, mentioned Jezebel and I thought of Delilah, not two characters most Assemblies of God ministers would want their youth groupies to emulate.
My focus, though, here will be on the male biblical characters which we boys did and could have dressed up as.
10. Abraham: Even though I don't remember dressing up as him, he is one that kids could dress up as, I guess. After all, you could come in with a little dance, using the Father Abraham song. No, this Father Abraham song, not this one.
9. Noah: We lived in farm country, and I guess we could have been accompanied by animals, two of a kind, of course.
8. Joshua/Gideon: The prop here would have been a trumpet naturally, although after that, I don't know what the joke would be. However, maybe you could use this song somehow. It was an excuse for me anyway.
7. Samson: I don't know if this would have worked. I mean, long hair, but not necessarily white would be so such a faux pas at these parties. It'd be like showing up at a Venetian Masquerade Party without a powdered wig. I mean, it can be done, but don't be surprised, if the hostess of the party throws a look of disdain over her lorgnette if you show up with this costume.
6. David: When I first thought of this, I thought of using a slingshot as a prop, although perhaps that would be frowned up at some parties by youth ministers. My wife had another take on it, saying that if one did come dressed up as David, one rule would have to apply: no naked dancing. Selah!
5. Jeremiah: I'm thinking here sackcloth and ashes. This might be a little bit of a downer, though. However, it might at least get the other kids to think about the shortness of their lives...of course, teenage suicide is a problem. So maybe not.
4. Joseph: The coat of many colors, of course, would be a great costume. However, would that be promoting homosexual lifestyles, because of all the colors of the rainbow? And since Donny Osmond did the musical too (if you stomach that clip, may the angel Moroni truly bless you), would that be seen as promoting Mormonism, which naturally is seen as a cult by most mainstream churches? Could be problematic.
3. Peter: This one has possibilities with props of nets and fishing poles. The denying Christ three times, though, not so much.
2. Moses: You could bring in stone tablets for this one, maybe even a set of three and drop one if your youth group has a sense of humor, even though the youth group leader might be the only one who is old enough to get the joke. You also could carry a staff -- and if you wanted to throw in a full impression, you could stutter too.
And the No. 1 Biblical character to dress up as at Halloween:
John the Baptist: Why him?
I just imagine someone coming in carrying his own head on a platter¡
Ba-da bump.
Part of the Humor Bloggers Halloween Humor Carnival.
I grew up in an Assemblies of God background, which didn't even believe in Boy Scouts but had Royal Rangers instead. Think Pioneers, but instead of red, we wore green and instead of quoting Marx and Lenin, we quoted Peter and Paul, chapter and verse, but definitely no Mary. Catholics were, and are, verboten for Assemblies of God youth.
We had "harvest parties" instead of "Halloween parties" and didn't dress up as devil and witches but as prophets and prophetesses? Dutiful wives of prophets? Sarah? Noah's unnamed wife? I do remember girls were in attendance as I flirted with them on the hay rides after the parties, but for the life of me, I don't remember who they came dressed up as.
When I asked my sister about strong female biblical characters, she listed Mary, of course, Ruth and Queen Esther. My wife, though, mentioned Jezebel and I thought of Delilah, not two characters most Assemblies of God ministers would want their youth groupies to emulate.
My focus, though, here will be on the male biblical characters which we boys did and could have dressed up as.
10. Abraham: Even though I don't remember dressing up as him, he is one that kids could dress up as, I guess. After all, you could come in with a little dance, using the Father Abraham song. No, this Father Abraham song, not this one.
9. Noah: We lived in farm country, and I guess we could have been accompanied by animals, two of a kind, of course.
8. Joshua/Gideon: The prop here would have been a trumpet naturally, although after that, I don't know what the joke would be. However, maybe you could use this song somehow. It was an excuse for me anyway.
7. Samson: I don't know if this would have worked. I mean, long hair, but not necessarily white would be so such a faux pas at these parties. It'd be like showing up at a Venetian Masquerade Party without a powdered wig. I mean, it can be done, but don't be surprised, if the hostess of the party throws a look of disdain over her lorgnette if you show up with this costume.
6. David: When I first thought of this, I thought of using a slingshot as a prop, although perhaps that would be frowned up at some parties by youth ministers. My wife had another take on it, saying that if one did come dressed up as David, one rule would have to apply: no naked dancing. Selah!
5. Jeremiah: I'm thinking here sackcloth and ashes. This might be a little bit of a downer, though. However, it might at least get the other kids to think about the shortness of their lives...of course, teenage suicide is a problem. So maybe not.
4. Joseph: The coat of many colors, of course, would be a great costume. However, would that be promoting homosexual lifestyles, because of all the colors of the rainbow? And since Donny Osmond did the musical too (if you stomach that clip, may the angel Moroni truly bless you), would that be seen as promoting Mormonism, which naturally is seen as a cult by most mainstream churches? Could be problematic.
3. Peter: This one has possibilities with props of nets and fishing poles. The denying Christ three times, though, not so much.
2. Moses: You could bring in stone tablets for this one, maybe even a set of three and drop one if your youth group has a sense of humor, even though the youth group leader might be the only one who is old enough to get the joke. You also could carry a staff -- and if you wanted to throw in a full impression, you could stutter too.
And the No. 1 Biblical character to dress up as at Halloween:
John the Baptist: Why him?
I just imagine someone coming in carrying his own head on a platter¡
Ba-da bump.
Part of the Humor Bloggers Halloween Humor Carnival.
24 comments:
HILARIOUS! Especially since I'm taking Kiddo to a "Harvest Party" at our church tonight. Of course, he's going dressed at StormShadow from GI JOE ...
Recent blog:=- Two Histories of England
StormShadow....hmmm? Seems a little violent, but then I'm guessing Samson wasn't exactly a pacifist either. :)
That last one might be a little difficult to pull off...metaphorically speaking.
Recent blog:=- Pumpkins, Pirates and Princesses?
Noah would have been a great character to dress up as. Aside from the animals, you could have added a personal misting machine to simulate rain.
Recent blog:=- Caption This! Halloween Edition
Good point. I wish I had thought of that. Well, we'll have to add the list of suggestions. :)
Ah, I see what you're saying.
Nice job. I loved the Moses clip.
I can't imagine any costume more boring than Abraham. ;-)
Recent blog:=- A Hallowing Halloween Graveyard Visit
Wow- it really isn't much different than that Martyr Party, is it?
Recent blog:=- T'was the Night Before Halloween, Plus Zombies
Ummm....you forgot the most obvious. Jesus! Hello! You could come in nailed to the cross . . .
Oh, Lord, please don't send me to hell.
How could you forget the greastest Biblical character of all time? Lucifer?
Recent blog:=- Halloween Part 2
The greatest? Well, Jesus might have something to say about that...
...and the dude was only mentioned once by name so really can't be the greatest. :)
I checked at Party City and they had none of these costumers. And you got me all excited...for shame!
Cheers,
Brian
Recent blog:=- Heaven in '67?
You could soak yourself in whale vomit and go as Jonah.
Recent blog:=- Because once in awhile, short is good... I hope.
I agree. Abraham has no pizazz.
Nope, not really. :)
Or if you believe that He rose again, you could come in with nail prints in your hands for the doubting Thomases...oh, hey, there's another character. Or Judas? Um...maybe not.
Well, my wife drove past a church that was having a Trunk or Treat party (they put candy in their car trunks, don't ask me, I've only heard of it recently) and also a Heroes of the Bible Party, with many of the characters I mentioned among those suggested. So you must can find them somewhere or, be old fashioned, make them up yourself. :)
Ewwwww....but have heard the suggestion from a friend on Facebook, about Jonah, with a whale over your head. I'll consider it. ;)
Nebuchanezzar's bovine form.
Jonah in fish. Or moping under dead plant.
"Legion" from the gospels.
Any number of raving lunatics.
Ananias and Saphira (sp?) at their moments of death. The undead.
Jezebel, after walking the dogs.
...
"Legion": Wow, now that would be one to pull off, Mike. Woo. Didn't see that one coming.
This, folks, from a former Messiah College graduate, who obviously had more Bible classes while he was there when I did O:-)...or else, paid closer attention, anyway. :)
I spent some time with the AOG church as well. They're a strange mix of fervent and dull. John the Baptist with his own head on a platter would've livened things up a bit. Around these parts, the church is famous for its annual Halloween Haunted House featuring an abortion clinic featuring aborted fetuses. Gruesome, indeed, and on several levels.
I was at a party in college where I saw a burning bush. Whoops...this is a family-friendly blog. Funny post.
Recent blog:=- "Shower Time With Jim" Barbie Review
Seen that too, Mike. I'm Catholic and think that is gruesome as well, on several levels. :(
I've deleted worse comments. No, really.
Thanks for stopping by, Matt. Haven't seen you in a while...
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