Nativity costumes for kids start with the cast list for your Christmas pageant: Mary, Joseph, three wise men or kings, shepherds, an angel, often a donkey and sheep, and a doll for baby Jesus. We have a costume for every speaking role, mostly in 4-6 to 12-14 years. Tradition casts three wise men, one for each gift, and wise men and kings made up about half the nativity costumes ordered on morphsuits.com in November and December 2025.
The kids costumes below come from our kids Christmas costumes range. Our Christmas costumes guide covers the wider season, and kids Christmas costumes for school plays and parties covers roles beyond the stable.
What costumes do you need for a nativity play?
A nativity play needs one costume per speaking role, plus a doll for the manger. One Gospel account gives the shepherds, the angels and the baby "wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (the Gospel birth story), and the other gives the wise men and their gifts (the wise men's passage).
| Role | Our costume | In the pack | You add | Kids sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary | Girls Virgin Mary Costume | Robe, cape, belt, hood | Nothing | 4-6 to 10-12 years (check the size guide for 12-14) |
| Joseph | Boys Joseph Nativity Christmas Costume | Robe with overcoat and waist tie, headpiece | Nothing | 4-6 to 12-14 years |
| Baby Jesus | A doll | - | A doll and a plain blanket | - |
| Wise men (three) | Red, Gold and Blue Wise Man Costumes | Tunic, vest, jacket or cape, crown hat (varies by color) | A small gift each | 4-6 to 12-14 years |
| Kings (wise men, younger cast) | Red, Blue and Green Nativity King Costumes | Robe with vest, head dress, golden crown | A small gift each | 3-4 to 10-12 years |
| Shepherds | Kids Brown Shepherd and Kids Gold Shepherd Costumes | Tunic, striped jacket, rope belt, headdress | A crook | 4-6 to 12-14 years |
| Angel | Girls Angel Christmas Costume | White maxi dress with gold trim, wings, halo headband | Nothing | 3-4 to 12-14 years |
| Donkey | Boys Donkey Nativity Costume | Hooded top with donkey face and ears, hoof hand covers | Everyday clothes underneath | 4-6 to 12-14 years |
Before the dress rehearsal, check off the five things our kids packs don't include:
- A doll for the manger, wrapped in a plain cream or white blanket.
- Three gifts for the wise men: a small box wrapped in gold paper, a jar, and a wooden box all work.
- A crook for each shepherd, if the play gives them one.
- Beards: none of our kids nativity packs includes one.
- Shoes: no pack includes them; plain sandals or soft shoes in a neutral color suit every role.
What do Mary and Joseph wear?
Mary wears a white robe, a blue cape and a hood; Joseph wears a beige robe, a brown overcoat and a headpiece.
Mary: a girl's nativity costume that's ready to wear
The Girls Virgin Mary Costume is a white robe, an attached blue cape, a royal blue waist belt and a white hood, in 100% polyester, and its product page says it needs no extra accessories. The hood and belt are separate pieces, so you can adjust the belt for a neater fit.
Joseph: a robe with added stretch
The Boys Joseph Nativity Christmas Costume is a long beige robe with a brown overcoat and waist tie, plus a long beige headpiece. The 100% polyester has added stretch for a comfortable, forgiving fit. For a cold church or school hall, put a plain long-sleeved top underneath; the robe covers it.
Mary in blue is tradition, not a rule. For a second Mary and Joseph, we also have a Girls Mary Nativity Costume and a Boys Blue Joseph Nativity Costume.
Who plays baby Jesus, and is there a Jesus costume for kids?
Use a doll for baby Jesus, wrapped in a plain blanket. The Gospel describes a newborn "wrapped in cloths," so the blanket is the whole costume; a real baby in a living nativity needs only that and a parent close by. For an older child playing Jesus, or an Easter or Bible-story play, we have a kids Jesus costume.
Jesus: robe, overcoat and a red sash
The Boys Red Jesus Costume is a long beige robe with an overcoat, an attached red sash and a waist tie belt, in 4-6 to 12-14 years. The robe has added stretch and is easy to put on and take off. The long wig and beard in the photo are not in the pack. Its product page also suggests it for disciples and shepherds.
How many wise men do you need, and what do they carry?
Cast three wise men, one for each gift. The Gospel names three gifts, "gold, frankincense and myrrh" (the verse that lists them), and as the National Gallery puts it, "The Gospel gives no number"; the tradition of three follows the gifts. A big class can add a fourth king, and a small one can manage with two. The gifts come from home: none of our wise men or kings packs includes one.
The wise men: three colors, one set
The Boys Red Wise Man Costume is a red tunic, a long vest with gold trim, a white rope belt and a red and gold crown hat. Make it a set of three with the Boys Gold Wise Man Costume (gold satin tunic, green jacket with gold trim, rope belt, golden headpiece and crown hat) and the Boys Blue Wise Man Costume (white tunic, blue faux fur-trimmed cape, blue crown hat).
The kings: sizes from age 3
For a preschool pageant, the Boys Red Nativity King Costume starts at Toddler (3-4 years): a red jersey robe with an attached metallic-print vest, a matching head dress and a golden crown. The Boys Blue Nativity King Costume and the Boys Green Nativity King Costume complete the three.
What do the shepherds wear?
A shepherd wears a tunic, a striped jacket, a rope belt and a headdress, and carries a crook. The role has no set number, so a big class can field four or five shepherds.
The shepherd: tunic, striped jacket and headdress
The Kids Brown Shepherd Costume is a long white tunic, a brown striped jacket, a white rope-style belt and a matching headdress, and its product page suggests it for an innkeeper or Joseph as well. For a second shepherd in another color, the Kids Gold Shepherd Nativity Costume swaps the brown stripes for gold. For the crook, our Adult Shepherd's Staff is a multi-section crook that extends to about 58.9 inches; it is one size, designed for adults, so it suits a grown-up shepherd or Joseph alongside the cast.
What about the angel, the donkey and the sheep?
Cast one angel or a whole row; the donkey and sheep are optional. In the Gospel story, one angel and then "a great company" appear to the shepherds, and neither birth account mentions an ox or a donkey at the manger. Our Girls Angel Christmas Costume and Kids Christmas White Angel Costume cover the younger angels (more in our angel costume ideas guide). A teen angel can carry our Adult Gold Angel Harp Prop, sized for ages 14 and up. For the flock, the Kids Sheep Costume is a hooded top, sized 4-6 to 12-14 on its size guide; check the selector for the larger sizes.
The donkey: a hooded top a child can put on alone
The Boys Donkey Nativity Costume is a plush hooded top with a donkey face and floppy ears, plus hoof-shaped hand covers. Velcro fastening means a child can get into it without help, and the top goes over everyday clothes, so gray or black pants finish the look.
What size nativity costume does your child need?
Order by age, then check the size guide on the product page. Heights in one mixed-age cast can sit about 19 inches apart: the CDC growth charts put the median child at about 40 inches at age 4 and about 59 inches by age 12.
- Most of our kids nativity costumes: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 12-14 years (the size guides call these Small to X-Large).
- Girls Virgin Mary Costume: Small (4-6), Medium (7-9) and Large (10-12); the size selector also lists 12-14, so check the size guide.
- From age 3: the nativity kings (Toddler 3-4 years, then Small, Medium and Large) and the Girls Angel Christmas Costume.
- Between sizes: size up, as several of our product pages advise, including the Red and Gold wise men, the kings, the shepherd and the donkey. The kings and the donkey are cut to go over everyday clothes.
Every costume goes through over 30 measurement checks. All of our kids' products are safety tested by accredited labs.
Can you make a no-sew Mary costume at home?
Yes, a no-sew Mary costume takes a white pillowcase or plain white top, a long blue scarf, and a cord. The method below adapts the pageant costume notes a Nashville cathedral printed in its December 2018 service bulletin; the notes cover angels and shepherds rather than Mary, and end on good advice: "Remember to keep this relaxed and simple."
- The robe: for a young child, cut neck and armholes in a white pillowcase, as the cathedral notes suggest for angels; for an older child, use a long plain white top.
- The belt: tie a cord at the waist to gather the robe, as the notes do for angels.
- The veil: drape a long blue scarf over the head and shoulders; the notes tie shepherds' head scarves on with rope or cord around the head.
Homemade suits one performance. For two dress rehearsals and a show, or a hand-me-down for next year, our ready-made Mary is ready to wear straight out of the box.
Which nativity costumes fit adults?
Our adult nativity costumes cover Mary, Joseph and Jesus for a church play, a living nativity or a community Christmas event. In a 2024 Lifeway Research survey of 1,200 Americans, 47% said they typically attend church at Christmastime.
Mary for adults: a dress with the cape attached
The Women's Mary Nativity Costume is a dress with an attached cape, a waist tie and a hood, in 100% polyester, Small to X-Large on the size guide (the size selector also shows Extra Small and XXL, so check the chart). With the cape attached, there is no layering to manage: put it on and tie the waist.
Joseph for adults: floor-length and pull-on
The Men's Brown Joseph Nativity Christmas Costume is a floor-length brown and cream robe with a waist tie and a matching headpiece, in Medium, Large and Extra Large. The robe is stretchy and pulls on with no fiddly fastenings; the waist tie sets the fit. Add our Adult Shepherd's Staff for the walk to Bethlehem; it comes apart to store flat.
Jesus for adults: wig and beard included
The Men's Jesus Costume is a long-sleeved cream cloak, a red sash, a rope tie belt, a brown curly wig and a beard, in semi-stretch 100% polyester with a loose fit, Medium to 2XL on the size guide (the selector lists Small to XXL). An adult king or wise man in the same cast can add our Gold Foam King Crown - Adult, which adjusts with a hook-and-loop strap.
When should you order, and how do you wash them?
Order in early to mid-November, leaving time for delivery, a try-on over everyday clothes, and an exchange before the December dress rehearsal. Check your pageant date and count back from it: Westwood United Methodist held its 2023 pageant on Christmas Eve morning, with costumes chosen and rehearsed the Sunday before.
Each piece takes a cold hand wash on its own, then an air dry laid flat away from direct heat, never the washing machine. Fold the robes loosely to store for next year's play. The staff and harp wipe clean with a damp cloth; spot clean the foam crown.
Frequently asked questions
What costumes do you need for a nativity play?
Mary, Joseph, three wise men or kings, shepherds, an angel and a doll for baby Jesus, with a donkey and sheep optional. Our kids nativity costumes cover every speaking role, most in 4-6 to 12-14 years, and the kings and Girls Angel start at 3-4.
Which nativity costume is best for a girl?
For Mary, our Girls Virgin Mary Costume: a white robe, an attached blue cape, a blue belt and a white hood, ready to wear with no extra accessories, in 4-6 to 10-12 years on the size guide. For an angel, our Girls Angel Christmas Costume; the Kids Brown and Gold Shepherd Costumes also work for girls.
How many wise men are in the nativity?
The Gospel names three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, but not how many wise men brought them; the tradition of three follows the gifts. Cast three, one gift each: our Red, Gold and Blue Wise Man Costumes make a set of three in different colors.
What size nativity costume fits a 5-year-old?
Size 4-6 years in our kids nativity costumes, which is Small in the Girls Virgin Mary Costume and the wise men. A tall 5-year-old may need 7-9: compare their height with the product page size guide, and between sizes, go up.
Do nativity costumes come with props?
Mostly not. Our kids nativity packs hold the costume pieces, with no gifts, crooks or dolls, so plan a doll for the manger, three small gifts and a crook per shepherd; our Adult Shepherd's Staff is one size for adults. The exception is the Kids Christmas White Angel Costume, which comes with a wand. Beards and shoes are yours to add too.
How do you wash a nativity costume?
Cold hand wash and air dry, one piece at a time, flat and away from direct heat. Our nativity costumes are hand wash only: no washing machine, no dryer.
