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Liturgical Colours
The
United Church of Canada does not prescribe a particular set of
colours for vestments and church decorations. A number of colour schemes
have been used in recent centuries, some of which are quite complex.
They were first mentioned in the twelfth century.
Liturgical colours draw the attention
of worshipers to the rhythms of the liturgical year. However, schemes
for the use of colour should be regarded as suggestions and not as
absolute rules.
The use of red as sign of blood and fire
is easily explained, as is the use of white for purity in some cultures.
Reasons for the use of other colours are less accessible. In practice,
gold is often substituted for white and may suggest more immediately the
glory implied by the major feasts for which white is designated.
The scheme of white, green, violet
(purple), and red (and also black) was first legislated in rubrics by
Pope Pius V in 1570, but local customs persisted for a long time. It
became popular outside the Roman Catholic Church during the last
century. Blue was added for the season of Advent because it is an
ancient liturgical colour and was chosen to distinguish Advent from the
season of Lent, whose character is different.
Easter |
Easter Sunday - Day before Pentecost (Apr 17 - Jun 4, 2022) |
Gold or |
White |
Pentecost (Jun 5, 2022) |
Red |
Season after Pentecost |
Day after Pentecost - Day before Trinity (Jun 6 - 11, 2022) |
Green |
Trinity (Jun 12, 2022) |
Gold or |
White |
Day after Trinity - Saturday after Labour Day (Jun 13 - Sep 10,
2022) |
Green |
Creation Time (Sep 11 - Oct 9, 2022) |
Orange |
Thanksgiving Day - Day before Advent (Oct 10 - Nov 26, 2022) |
Green |
Advent |
Advent 1 - Day before Christmas Eve (Nov 27 - Dec 23, 2022) |
Blue or |
Purple |
Christmas |
Christmas Eve - Epiphany (Dec 24, 2022 - Jan 6, 2023) |
Gold or |
White |
Season after Epiphany |
Day after Epiphany - Shrove Tuesday (Jan 7 - Feb 21, 2023) |
Green |
Lent |
Ash Wednesday - Day before Palm Sunday (Feb 22 - Apr 1, 2023) |
Purple |
Palm Sunday (Apr 2) |
Red
or |
Purple |
Holy Week |
Holy Monday - Maundy Thursday (Apr 3 - 6, 2023) |
Red |
Good Friday - Holy Saturday (Apr 7 - 8, 2023) |
Black |
Easter |
Easter Sunday - Day before Pentecost (Apr 9 - May 27, 2023) |
Gold or |
White |
Pentecost (May 28, 2023) |
Red |