Every year on November 1, the Church celebrates every saint in Heaven: the famous ones with feast days, and the millions of holy men and women whose names only God knows. It’s one of the happiest days of the Catholic year, and kids love it.
If you’re planning a saint costume, a parish party, or just a special day at home, here’s everything you need.
What is All Saints Day?
All Saints Day is a Catholic feast celebrated on November 1. It honors all the saints, known and unknown, who now live with God in Heaven. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to all the saints on November 1, and the feast later spread to the whole Church.
The night before is All Hallows’ Eve. “Hallow” is an old word for saint, which is where the name Halloween comes from. The day after, November 2, is All Souls Day, when we pray for everyone who has died.
In 2026, All Saints Day falls on a Sunday, so your family will already be at Mass. It’s the perfect excuse to wear the costume to church.
Easy All Saints Day costumes for kids
The best saint costumes are simple: one outfit piece and one prop that tells the story. Most of these come together from things you already have at home.
| Saint | Outfit | The prop that gives it away |
|---|---|---|
| Our Lady (Mary) | White dress, blue scarf or sheet as a mantle | A rosary, or a ring of paper stars around the head |
| St. Francis of Assisi | Brown robe or oversized brown hoodie, rope belt | A stuffed bird or a little lamb |
| St. Thérèse of Lisieux | Brown dress, white and black veil | A bunch of roses (paper or fake) |
| St. Michael the Archangel | Any armor or tunic, cardboard wings | A foam sword and shield |
| St. Joan of Arc | Silver shirt or foil armor | A flag on a stick |
| St. Lucy | White dress, red sash | A wreath of battery candles on the head |
| St. Peter | Robe, sandals | Two big paper keys |
| St. Patrick | Green robe or cape | A paper shamrock and a walking stick |
| St. Charbel | Black robe with a hood, cotton-ball beard | A small cross held close |
Tip for little ones: a small child won’t keep a veil or a beard on for long. Let them carry their saint instead. A plush saint is a costume prop they’ll actually hold all day, and it doesn’t end up in the costume bin on November 2.
All Saints Day party ideas
Whether it’s a parish hall, a Catholic school classroom or your living room, these games work for ages 4 to 10.
- Guess the saint. Each child gives three clues about their costume saint (“I loved animals. I lived in Italy. I talked to a wolf.”). Everyone else guesses.
- Saint charades. Act out a famous moment: St. Peter walking on water, St. Francis preaching to the birds, St. George and the dragon.
- Saint walk. Like a cake walk, but the squares are saint pictures. When the music stops, the child on the called saint wins a prize.
- Holy card swap. Every child brings a few holy cards and trades. They go home with a new saint to learn about.
- Parade of saints. Each child walks in and says one sentence about their saint. Grandparents love this one.
- Saint treat bags. Fill small bags with a holy card, a prayer and a treat. Add a name tag for each child’s patron saint.
Prize idea: for the winner of the big game, or as a gift for every child at a small party, plush saints are the prize kids keep. Candy is gone by bedtime; a saint friend comes to Mass on Sunday.
A short All Saints Day prayer for kids
A simple way to pray together is a mini Litany of the Saints. A parent says the saint’s name, and the kids answer “pray for us.”
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Michael, pray for us.
Saint Francis, pray for us.
Saint Charbel, pray for us.
(Add each child’s patron saint.)
All holy men and women, pray for us.
Let each child add the saint they dressed up as. It’s a sweet way to end the day.
Catholic gifts for All Saints Day
All Saints Day is a lovely time to give a child their own saint: one they can hold, sleep with and ask questions about. A rosary or a children’s Bible is beautiful, but many kids already have both. A plush saint is a Catholic gift that becomes a friend.
Our plush saints are made for exactly this:
- Virgin Mary plushie: the perfect first saint for any child, and the most loved Catholic gift in our shop.
- Saint Charbel plushie: a beloved saint for Maronite and Lebanese families, and for anyone who loves Lebanon’s great miracle worker.
Order by October 20 to receive it before All Saints Day.
Celebrate the saints all year
All Saints Day reminds us that the saints aren’t distant statues. They’re our family in Heaven, cheering us on. Whatever your kids dress up as this year, we hope they come home with a saint friend for life.
More from our blog: Why faith-based plushies matter for Catholic kids · Quotes from Saint Charbel · Virgin Mary quotes: words she actually said