There are different colors to see in the church throughout the year. The colors purple, white, green and red alternate. Each color belongs to a specific ecclesiastical period and each color has its own meaning. For some colors this meaning is connected to colors as mentioned in the Bible. Other colors have a more traditional meaning. The colors can be seen in the antependium and in the stole worn by the predecessor.
History of liturgical colors in the Christian religion
The use of different colors in the church has to do with the space that was available for the church. For the first two centuries of the Christian religion, believers did not have a specific space where church services were held. The table where the Lord’s meal was celebrated had no permanent decoration at that time. When the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist was celebrated, a white cloth of silk, damask or linen was placed over a table and it became an altar table. Over time, people started to decorate these table linens. In Latin the cloth was called an antependium. The meaning of the word antependium is veil. When the faithful had their own church space, the antependium hung permanently over the altar table. The primary purpose of the antependium is to cover the table and the lectern. It then became a way to indicate the time of the liturgical year through the colors of these cloths.
The color white at baptism
From the beginning of the Christian church, it was customary for those to be baptized to wear a white robe as a sign that they had been washed by the water of baptism. From that moment on, a new life begins for them, which is indicated by the color white. At the beginning of the fifth century, pastors also started dressing in white. Only in the twelfth century are there signs that other colors were also used in the church that had a symbolic meaning. These colors are used for certain liturgical celebrations or specific times of the year, such as Christmas and Easter. In the beginning there were great local differences in the use of liturgical colors. Guidelines have been issued from Rome since the thirteenth century. This creates a more uniform use of the liturgical colors. Since the Council of Trent (1545-1563), there has been a uniform policy within the Roman Catholic Church regarding the use of colors in the church.
The meaning of the color white
The color white is the only liturgical color that is strongly anchored in the Bible. This color appears in various places in the Bible. For example, the witnesses who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb in Revelation wear the color white (Revelation 7:9,14). This color refers to cleanliness. According to John, the writer of the Bible book of Revelation, white is also the color of the kingdom of God (Revelation 3:4). White has traditionally been the color associated with baptism. In the early church, the baptized were dressed in white robes after immersion. Baptisms were done on Easter night. The light of the risen Christ shines around them. White is a festive color. At Easter the liturgical color is white and the church is also white at Christmas. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. A new life begins. This includes the color white. The color white can also be used at funerals. Then the white color refers to the heavenly light in which the deceased has been absorbed.
The meaning of the color purple
The color purple is used during times of preparation and reflection. Purple is the color of Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas. The color purple is also used for Lent. This time is connected to repentance and penance. Purple is also the color of sobriety, reflection and introspection. This color is also sometimes used at funerals.
The meaning of the color pink
The color pink is used on only two Sundays of the church year. There are many churches in which they do not use this color, but continue to stick to the color purple. Pink is used in the middle of Advent and in the middle of Lent. Those Sundays are called ‘almost Christmas’ and ‘half Lent’. Because half of the preparation time is over, it’s a bit of a party. The purple of repentance and penance is mixed with the white of celebration. Purple and white together make the pink color.
The meaning of the color green
Green is the color of ‘normal’ Sunday celebrations. If there is nothing special in the church year, green is the liturgical color. In the summer when there are no church festivals and holidays, the color in the church is green. It then refers to everything that grows.
The meaning of the color red
Red is the color of fire. This color is associated with the fire of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the very first day of Pentecost. Jesus’ disciples were gathered in the upper room, and suddenly tongues like fire were placed on their heads. These tongues of fire referred to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Hence the liturgical color for Pentecost is red. The color in the church is also red during celebrations in which the Holy Spirit plays an important role, such as the confirmation of office holders and confession services. However, the red also has a second meaning. This color can also refer to the blood of the martyrs who died because they continued to testify to their faith in Jesus. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says to his disciples: ‘Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). This color therefore applies to a service in which one or more office bearers are confirmed.
The liturgical colors of the church year
|
Time of the church year |
Liturgical color |
|
Advent |
Purple |
|
Third Sunday of Advent |
Pink |
|
Christmas Eve through Epiphany |
White |
|
Sundays after Epiphany |
Green |
|
Lent |
Purple |
|
Fourth Sunday of the Forty Days |
Pink |
|
Palm Sunday |
Purple |
|
Easter Vigil – Easter time |
White |
|
Pentecost |
Red |
|
Sunday Trinity |
White |
|
Sundays after Trinity |
Green |
|
Baptism and Confession |
White or Red |
|
Confirmation of office holders |
Red |
|
Wedding services |
White |
|
Funeral services |
White or Purple |
|
Consecration of a church |
White |
read more
- The symbolic meaning of colors in the Bible