Making your own Christmas costume can help get you into the holiday spirit. The type of costume you may need will depend on whether you're celebrating the religious holiday or Santa Claus; luckily, there are easy ways to put together both types of costumes.
Nativity Costumes
It's easy to learn how to make Christmas costumes for a nativity play. Baby Jesus, shepherds, Joseph and Mary are the easiest costumes to make. Make these nativity costumes from items you may already have around the house.
Angels
Angel costumes can be as dramatic or simple as you want to make them. Wings are not necessary, and halos can be worn around the forehead or suspended above it.
Materials
White dress or nightgown
Two large pieces of cardboard
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
White feathers
Wire
Long elastic material or elastic casing
Instructions
Put on the white dress or nightgown.
Loosely trace the shape of a wing onto each piece of cardboard and cut it out.
Cover the wing shapes with glue on both sides and glue the feathers on.
Punch a hole into each end of the wings where they will "attach" to the back.
Thread wire through the holes and twist the ends of the wire together to hold the wings together tightly.
Have an assistant hold the wings in place between the shoulder blades while a second person wraps long elastic casing over the wings, over the wear's shoulders and under the arm pits, tying the ends together tightly to hold the wings in place.
Bend a piece of wire into a circle that fits comfortably around the wearer's head.
Cover the wire in glue and feathers. If desired, a second piece of wire can be attached to the halo and to the wearer's shirt so it floats above the head.
Baby Jesus
The simplest costume to make is to swaddle him in a large, square white or off-white blanket.
Lay the blanket down in a diamond shape.
Fold the top corner down and set the baby on the blanket with this head above the folded corner.
Gather the left side of the cloth and pull it across his body tightly, tucking it under him on the other side.
Gather the bottom left of the cloth and pull it up and across his body, tucking it under him.
Gather the remaining fabric on the right and pull it across and down, tucking it below him.
Joseph
Joseph's costume is very simple to make.
Materials
Solid-colored robe
Rope
Leather sandals
Off-white pillowcase or piece of fabric
Large elastic headband in black, white or tan
Instructions
Put on the robe and tie it closed around your waist with the rope.
Put on the sandals.
Place the cloth or pillowcase on your head so it pulls tightly across the forehead and falls down the back. Secure it with the headband around the center of the forehead.
Mary
Mary's costume is also simple to create.
Materials
Blue nightgown
Light blue or white robe
White or light blue pillowcase or cloth square
Large elastic headband
Instructions
Put on the nightgown with the robe open over it.
Place the pillowcase or cloth on your head so it covers the forehead and falls down the back. Secure the cloth around your head with the headband.
Shepherds
The shepherd's costume is the same costume as Joseph's, with the addition of a shepherds staff or crook. Kids can make their own shepherds crook for a family nativity play with empty wrapping paper tubes by bending one end of the tube into a cane shape.
Wise Men
The wise men have a simple costume as well that is accentuated with props.
Silk or satin robe that closes down the front without tying
Leather sandals
Crown
Wooden box or glass perfume bottle
Instructions
Put on the robe and close the front so it fits loosely.
Put on the sandals and crown.
Carry a prop as a gift, such as a wooden box or glass bottle.
Stable Animals
Animal costumes can also be a simple or creative as you want to get, depending upon which animal you choose to be.
Cow Material
White shirt
White pants
Black felt
Scissors
Fabric glue
Paper towel cardboard tubes
Headband
Black gloves
Black shoes
Cow Instructions
Cut out several circles from the black felt and glue to the white shirt and pants.
Unravel one end of a cardboard tube, and twist the cardboard back up tightly to form a point. Glue into place and repeat on the other tube.
Cut a slit into the bottoms of both tubes and thread a headband through the tubes so when the headband is put on, the tubes stand up straight as horns.
Wear with black gloves and shoes.
Sheep Material
White shirt and pants
Cotton balls
Fabric glue
Black gloves
Black shoes
Sheep Instructions
Glue the cotton balls packed tightly together onto the shirt and pants to resemble the wooly coat of a sheep.
Wear with black gloves and shoes.
Other Christmas Costumes
From toy soldiers to elves, to Mrs. Claus and Dickens characters, there are countless other ways you can dress up for the holiday. Get your props together and try any of these fun and easy to make Christmas costumes.
Santa Claus
Dress as Santa - the head elf - using these simple instructions.
Materials
Short red robe
White shirt
Red sweatpants
Pillow if necessary
White faux-fur
Fabric glue
Scissors
Faux-beard and wig, if necessary
Black boots
Instructions
Cut long strips of the faux-fur and glue them to all the hems on the robe, including the sleeves, collar, front and bottom.
Cut and glue strips of the faux fur to the bottoms of the sweat pants.
Put on the sweatpants and white shirt.
Tuck the pillow up under the shirt and tuck the shirt into the pants to create a rounded belly.
Put on the robe over the shirt.
Finish with the black boots, a Santa hat, wig and beard.
Snowman
Head out dressed as Frosty to any holiday party.
Materials
Oversized white sweatshirt with hood
White pants or leggings
Pillow or upholstery stuffing
Fabric glue
Pop-up clothes hamper
Scissors
Black hat
Scarf
Broom
Instructions
Cut the bottom out of the pop-up clothes hamper and pull the sweatshirt over it to make the sweatshirt stand out.
Glue loose pillow or upholstery stuffing over the entire sweatshirt, including the hood. Use enough to really round out the hood and body of the sweatshirt.
Put on the white pants and the sweatshirt with its hamper frame. Put the hood up.
Place a black hat on top of the hood, tie a scarf around your neck and hold onto a broom.
Cut a piece of long elastic so it fits comfortably around the wearer's waist.
Tie the ends of the elastic together.
Cut the tulle into strips of varying lengths.
Tie the longest strips of tulle onto the elastic so they cover the elastic completely and fall down like a tutu.
Tie the next longest strips of tulle so they lie on top of the first set.
Tie the shortest strips of tulle so they lie on top of the others. The effect will be a skirt that stands out away from the body.
Stitch the tops of several bulb ornaments onto the shirt and tulle shirt. Remember to leave a space in the back bare so you can sit down.
Put on the brown tights and green shirt and pull the skirt on top.
Reindeer
Get a group together to go as all nine reindeer.
Materials
Brown sweatpants
Brown sweatshirt
White felt
Scissors
Fabric glue
Black or red face paint
Antlers
Instructions
Put on the sweatpants and sweatshirt.
Cut a large white oval out of the felt and glue it to your front so it covers you from your chest to the bottom of your torso.
Put a small amount of black or red face paint on the end of your nose and don a pair of antlers.
Christmas Present
This is a fun costume to wear, particularly if you are going with a friend dressed as a Christmas tree.
Materials
Large cardboard box
Wrapping paper
Ribbon
Scissors
Tape
Solid colored pants and shirt in the background color of the wrapping paper
Instructions
Cut the bottom out of the cardboard box so it only has a top and sides.
Wrap the box, leaving the bottom open.
Cut a large hole in the top of the box big enough for your head to go through.
Cut holes in the sides of the box for your arms.
Put on the pants and shirt and put the box on over them with your head and arms coming through.
Putting It Together
Dressing up in Christmas costumes adds a special touch of jolly to the season. You are bound to be the hit of the holiday party dressed up in any one of these Christmas costume suggestions.
