Are Priest, Nun Costumes Now Illegal In Minnesota?

Halloween season is here, and people throughout Minnesota are getting their costumes together for parties and fun nights out.

Every year, there are trendy costumes that dominate depending on what's happening in pop culture. For example, we will likely see many Taylor Swifts and Travis Kelces this year, perhaps in wedding garb.

Then, there are costumes from the past that continue to stand the test of time, like witches, monsters, scary killers from popular movies, etc. You're also likely to see a priest or nun costume.

This brought to mind the time I was talking to a friend about costumes when we were trying to figure out what to dress up as for a Halloween party. I told him I'd feel uncomfortable dressing up in anything that had a religious theme. He surprised me when he said it's probably for the better because it could be illegal anyway.

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Apparently, his wife has friends in Alabama, and he said that if you dress as a priest in that state, you could end up in jail. What? Get arrested and possibly thrown in jail over a Halloween costume in America?

An Illegal Halloween Costume Exists

I decided to do a little digging, and sure enough, what he said about Alabama was true. There is even mention of this in the Alabama code:

According to Section 13A-14-4 of the Alabama Code, “Whoever, being in a public place, fraudulently pretends by garb or outward array to be a minister of any religion, or nun, priest, rabbi or other member of the clergy, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Furthermore, breaking this law could earn you a $500 fine and up to a year in jail. So, make a mental note of that if you ever find yourself in Alabama on Halloween, but what about other states?

Is It Illegal To Dress As A Priest Or Nun In Minnesota?

No need to panic if you plan to dress up as a priest or nun or something similarly themed in Minnesota. There are no laws dictating what you can wear on Halloween. Of course, your actions while wearing your costume could get you into legal trouble.

For example, it's legal to dress up as a police officer on Halloween, but you can't use that costume to mislead others into believing you are a real law enforcement officer. That behavior is considered impersonating a police officer, which is a misdemeanor.

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Alabama appears to be the only state in America that makes wearing a type of costume an actual crime, and dressing in a religious-themed costume isn't the only thing Alabama forbids.

Also in Alabama, you can’t wear a mustache when you are attending church on Halloween, if it’s funny enough to make people laugh. This law prohibits fake facial hair. If you love Halloween, perhaps it's best to steer clear of Alabama altogether.