Colors and Church Seasons

For centuries the Church has marked its liturgical year through the use of various seasonal colors. This tradition has been primarily carried on by the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Greek Orthodox churches. The various colors are used to identify the color of the vestments to be worn by the clergy along with various altar and sanctuary decorations.

The sequence of liturgical colors throughout the Church Year includes:

  • WHITE - Symbolizes joy, purity and truth. Used during the celebratory seasons of Christmas and Easter and on other solemn occasions including Baptisms and Weddings. Gold is sometimes used in place of white on major occasions.

  • RED - This is the color of fire and blood and is typically used to celebrate Pentecost Sunday. It may also be used on the feast days of martyrs and days dedicated to honoring the Holy Spirit.

  • GREEN - This color symbolizes God's creative actions and is used on Sundays during the season after Epiphany and Pentecost. This is the most widely used color throughout the Church Year.

  • VIOLET - Symbolic of penance and expectation used during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Sometimes used for funeral services and on holy days that are penitential in nature.

  • BLACK - Represents sorrow and sadness. Used for funeral services and sometimes on Good Friday.

  • ROSE - Color that combines joy with penitence and anticipation. May be used on the Third Sunday of Advent (Rose Sunday) and to a lesser extent the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

  • BLUE - A color used in multiple shadings of blue. Lighter blue for feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and darker blue during the Sundays in Advent.