I’m going as a nun this year. I’m Wiccan. I’ve wanted to be a nun for Halloween ever since I became obsessed with the movie Sister Act at age 9, and this year I finally have the costume. I need a rosary, and I haven’t been able to find a cheap one, so I might make one.
Anyway, I was telling a friend about my costume plans (she really got into Christianity last year thanks to a college group, but she’s not Catholic), and she mentioned that it might offend people. Now I may be Wiccan, but I have the highest respect for nuns. I’m going as one because I respect them, and I’ve always wanted to meet one and have a good conversation with her. I’m also doing it for the shock value (people know I’m a bisexual pagan, so being a nun would completely go against my usual appearance), but that’s another matter. I don’t intend to mock nuns, I just want to show my appreciation for them by dressing as one.
I know many of you are Christians, so what are your perspectives? Please don’t tell me I’m going to hell - people tell me that all the time, and it only makes me angry. Maybe I should make a disclaimer sign or something and pin it to the costume so people realize what my intentions are…
If the catholics have gotten over the sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, they can deal with your costume. Dressing up as a nun for Halloween is not exactly uncommon, you know.
Well, you said you are doing it for shock value. When someone says that, it tends to make me believe they WANT someone to be offended.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think that people who didn’t know you would be offended, as there’s nothing inherently offensive about your costume that I can see. However, you said that you were going for a bit of shock value for people who know you…so they might very well think that you were mocking nuns and so be offended.
So which is it? Shock value or just want to dress up as a nun?
It’s fine by me. I don’t think folks ought to feel like they have to get permission from whatever group before they can dress up for Halloween. I wouldn’t expect you to get permission from the Eskimos before buying an Eskimo costume.
It’s just a costume. Sheesh.
And who would you get permission from for a Red-Devil-With-Horns-‘n’-Pitchfork costume?
What’s the line - something like “nuns run bald thru Vatican Halls pregnant, pleading immaculate conception.”
Always made me giggle.
Or am I showing my age.
Nah. Not in the least. A friend of mine, who also happens to be a Catholic priest, dressed up a a nun for Halloween one year.
The picture of him in his costume is prominently displayed in his living room (of the rectory).
I figure, if he could get away with it without anyone saying anything, I think anyone could, especially if you planned on “playing it straight”.
If you want to make it a scary costume, carry around a ruler and ask, “WHERE IS YOUR HOMEWORK, YOUNG MAN?!” shudder
[sub]Sorry, parochial school flashback.[/sub]
Now, if you went in a black shirt with a Roman collar, no pants and a mannequin from the boys dept. of Sears attached to your groin, someone might get their cackles up about that.
I was thinking about wearing my pentacle prominently and going as a Wiccan nun… that would be fun. My friend told me I should wear wings and carry a basketball (she used to draw pictures of winged nuns with sports equipment for some reason). Maybe I’ll carry a big paddle with me or something…
I remember one of the priests at our school dressing up as St. Nicholas on Saint Nicholas Day and going around to the classrooms talking about “his” (St Nick’s!) life.
I was in first grade, and when he left, he said, “Goodbye, children.”
We all replied, “Goodbye and thank you Fr. Joe!”
He looked at us and his jaw dropped. Sheesh, Fr, you need more than cotton balls to fool us!
I wouldn’t be offended at all - heck, the kid that did that would get the best candy, because I’d be laughing my rear off. Especially the pregnant nun bit.
I agree. I’m often asked about whether I find Indian mascots offensive, and I think it is the same principle.
If a team calls itself the Indian Givers and uses the motto “We can’t hold our liquor” I feel insulted. But if a team calls itself the Redskins or Chiefs and taps into the noble warrior aspect, then I am honored.
I would think that for Catholics, same same. If you dress up as a nun and carry a ruler to slap kids on the head while condemning them all to Hell, you might raise some eyebrows. But what you say you plan to do ought to delight devout Catholics.
