How to Make a Cernunnos Costume

Cernunnos has antlers like a stag.

Throughout the ancient Celtic tribes, Cernunnos stood out as the father god, lord over male virility, prosperity and all nature. Often depicted with a stag's antlers, Cernunnos shares dominion over the earth with his consort, Danu, goddess of the moon and fairy lands. Many modern pagans still worship Cernunnos, performing rites in his name at the winter and summer solstices. Whether you are pagan or simply want an original Halloween costume, Cernunnos costumes aren't complicated to make.

Things You'll Need

• 16-gauge craft wire: any color
• Wire nips
• Round-nosed pliers
• White polymer clay
• Cookie sheet
• Brown acrylic paint
• Water
• Paintbrush
• Hot glue
• Stiff headband
• Flexible measuring tape
• Fabric: brown, green, Celtic pattern
• Scissors
• Stick pin
• Sewing machine
• Natural rope
• Faux fur legwarmers: brown or black
• Face paint
• Torc choker

Instructions

Antlers

1. Cut two pieces of 16-gauge craft wire about 2-feet long. Grip each wire about 6 inches from one end with pliers and bend it down, creating a very tight "U" shape.

2. Bend the longer wire arm outward, then back again, creating a second "U" shape sticking straight out from the first "U" shape. Bend and twist this second "U" shape into a curve; it's the first prong of an antler.

3. Continue bending and twisting antler prongs into both wires. The antlers should be similar, but they don't have to be exactly the same. Stag antlers are rarely identical.

4. Press and work two blocks of white polymer clay between your hands to soften them. Cover the wire antlers in the white clay, pressing it out to points at the tips of the wires. The base of each antler should be wide, smooth and round. Press the base of each antler on your work surface to flatten it.

5. Bake the antlers on a cookie sheet at about 190 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Let them cool for about an hour.

6. Paint the antlers with brown acrylic paint and rough-bristled paintbrushes. Keep your strokes long and smooth, adding lots of water to the paint to get different shades of brown. The brush should leave striated lines behind. Let the paint dry for 2 hours.

7. Hot glue the antlers to a stiff headband. You can get clear plastic headbands at craft stores. Let the glue dry for at least 10 minutes.

Tunic

1. Measure across your chest and from your collar bone to your knees. Add 1 foot to the first measurement and double the second measurement, plus 6 inches. For instance, if your chest measures 20 inches across and your collarbone to knees measures 3 feet, your measurements will be 26 inches and 6 1/2 feet.

2. Cut a piece of fabric to your measurements. Choose brown or green fabric, with or without a pattern. The pattern may be irregular stripes, leaves, Celtic knots or a repeated texture. Fold the fabric in half with the wrong side facing out.

3. Draw a half-oval along the fold in the fabric with chalk. Cut out this half oval, creating a neck hole.

4. Pin the left and right sides of the fabric together, leaving about 5 inches open at the top for your armholes. Sew down the sides of the fabric, removing pins as you go. Turn the tunic right-side out.

5. Paint all the edges of the tunic with fray-stop, giving the piece a rough-hewn look without risking it coming apart around the edges.

Wearing the Costume

1. Put on the tunic and tie it around the waist with natural rope. You may let the rope ends hang or tuck them out of your way.

2. Slip on the headband with the antlers. Let some of your hair hang in your face, leaving it shaggy and wild.

3. Paint your face with green, brown and black whorls and dots. Cover your entire face, if possible. You shouldn't look human.

4. Slip on faux fur legwarmers. Choose a natural fur color rather than the popular neon colors.

5. Slip a torc around your neck. Cernunnos was often depicted with the torc, a sign of wealth.

References

• Spirit Folk: Cernunnos
• Ireland's Own: Cernunnos
• AMT Gard: How to Make a Quick & Easy Tabard or T-Tunic
• Phobe: Grow Your Own Horns