The Church Year

The Church year is divided up into seasons and each season has its own meaning and focus. The seasons also dictate the colors used to decorate the church and the vestments (clothes) worn by the clergy. The church year begins with Advent in November or December. Advent, of course, is the period leading up to Christmas.

Advent

Theme	Anticipating and preparing for the coming of the Lord
Color	Blue or Purple. Blue, the color of the Blessed Virgin. Purple, the color of royalty, humility, penance, and wisdom that comes from inward discernment. Rose (pink). The third Sunday in Advent is Rose Sunday. Rose is the color of joy.
Dates	Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Christmas

Theme	Celebrating the birth of Jesus - the Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ
Color	White. White is the color of celebration, joy, and peace in the western world. With the color gold, white symbolizes the greatest work of God in the world.
Dates	Christmas commences at sundown on December 24 and ends at sundown on January 5.

The Feast of the Epiphany

Theme	Jesus manifests Himself as God.
Color	White. White is the color of celebration, joy, and peace in the western world. With the color gold, white symbolizes the greatest work of God in the world.
Date	January 6.

Ordinary Time (after Epiphany)

Theme
Color	Green. Green is the color of Relevatory experience.
Dates	January 7 until the beginning of Lent

Lent

Theme	Retreating Into the Wilderness with Jesus. A period of restraint, contemplation, learning and prayer.
Color	Purple. Purple is the color of humility, penance, and wisdom that comes from inward discernment. It is also the color of royalty.
Dates	Lent is the forty day period before Easter. It actually lasts longer than forty days because Sundays, being the celebration of our Lord's resurrection, are not counted.

Easter

Theme	Celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord
Color	White. White is the color of celebration, joy, and peace in the western world. With the color gold, white symbolizes the greatest work of God in the world.
Date	The Easter Season begins on Easter Sunday and lasts 50 days until Pentecost. Easter is defined as the Sunday following the paschal full moon, which is the full moon that falls on or after the vernal (spring) equinox (March 21).

Pentecost

Theme	The birthday of the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Color	Red. Red is the color of excitement, energy, power, and all things intense and passionate. As such, red is the color of the Holy Spirit.
Date	The fiftieth day after Easter

Ordinary Time (after Pentecost)

Theme
Color	Green. Green is the color of Relevatory experience.
Date	The day after Pentecost to the day before Advent.

Special Days

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of  the congregation in the form of a cross. It marks the celebration and acts as a reminder of human mortality. It is also seen as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter. Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. A Christ Church, following the example set by Christ at the Last Supper, the clergy bathe the feet of the congregation.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter. Good Friday Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

Holy Saturday

The Saturday before Easter. Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb.

Note

You are probably wondering why Easter Sunday is not listed above. It's because every Sunday is the celebration of our Lord's resurrection. Though, it must be admitted, we do make an extra effort to dress up the Church and ourselves for Easter Sunday.