Earth and Altar

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THE EARTH & ALTAR SPOOKY SEASON GIFT GUIDE

Photo by Mathew MacQuarrie on Unsplash.

The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are starting to drop, and it’s time to switch out your black summer clothes for your black fall and winter clothes. It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year: Spooky Season. Although gift-giving isn’t necessarily a traditional part of this season, there just might be someone in your life who would delight in receiving a seasonally-appropriate gift. Maybe that person is you! If so, treat yourself! We have all sorts of ideas, ranging from the fun and whimsical to that which is much more Goth4God.

They’re not just any ghosts, they’re holy ghosts…

The only ghost I pay much attention to is the Holy Ghost, but that doesn’t mean a girl can’t get into the Halloween spirit by decorating with some friendly ghosts. If you want something that says “I like Halloween but I’m not that spooky,” try some fun ghost decor, like this LED ghost lamp from IKEA or a set of ghost candles. These are also perfect Halloween gifts for 90s kids who watched Casper one too many times.

“Do you guys ever think about dying?”

Barbie had the courage to ask what many of us have always wondered. If you, too, are busy contemplating your own mortality, consider a fun sticker for your laptop or water bottle. If you’re too anxious to affix a sticker to something, consider a Memento Mori yard flag. Yes, you read that right. A Memento Mori yard flag. You can contemplate your own death while inviting all of your neighbors to do the same.

 Just call us Ezekiel because there are bones everywhere.

Skeletons can range from the cute and spooky to utterly terrifying and we have the whole range for you. 

Consider a skeleton onesie to keep you warm and cozy on these fall nights. Or if you’re looking for something to wear to Mass on All Souls’ Day, consider some spooky socks or a pair of skull tights

If seasonally-themed socks or tights aren’t enough, check out the new Holo Taco Dark Academia nail polish line, which pairs perfectly with some skeleton nail stickers. Complete your look with one of these skeleton hand hair clips.

In case you are more into decorating with skulls than wearing them, look no further than the much-admired 12-foot skeleton from Home Depot. They’re hard to come by but Christians are people of hope, and I hope you all get the 12-foot skeleton for your yard.

If the 12-foot skeleton isn’t enough or isn’t available but you really want your front yard to look like the catacombs, you can also buy a 7.5-foot skull and bone archway. Need I say more?

Goth4God

If you’ve made it this far and are thinking to yourself “Pft. This stuff is all for amateurs,” this is the section for you. These items are old and expensive and it’s probably financially irresponsible to even suggest any of them, but they’re too good to not share.

Nothing says “I really love Jesus and I’m also a little spooky” like this antique reliquary locket, which is said to contain a piece of the true cross. 

If you need an even bigger reliquary in which to store your little reliquary locket, and you have $6,500 burning a hole in your pocket, we sure have the thing for you: a set of antique French Gothic altar reliquaries!

Finally, I think we can all agree that an All Souls’ Day Requiem Mass just hits differently when everyone is decked out in black vestments. Sure, you can find some on eBay, but just look at these. 

Allhallowtide is certainly not about the gifts or the stuff (seriously: do not go into credit card debt to buy a black chasuble or an antique reliquary!) but it’s fun to think about all of the different ways we can celebrate this holy (and spooky) time of year. However you celebrate, I hope that you are drawn ever closer to God and to the Great Cloud of Witnesses in this season.