The Special Colors of the Christian Year

What's your religious persuasion? If you have a faith relationship with Jesus Christ, do you pick any of these colors as you make your paper crafting color choices during these Holy seasons?

Here's a list of the colors most commonly used during these seasons and what they represent:

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Colors for Advent: Purple or blue; purple symbolizes both penitence and royalty; blue is the color of hope.

In stained glass windows, blue is symbolic of spiritual love, constancy and fidelity, so it is no surprise that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is usually shown wearing a blue cloak.

Blue is the color of God's glory and it is said to ward off the evil eye and to protect the white purity of holiness within.

Christmas Season & Day of Epiphany: White and gold because they are joyous, festive colors.

In stained glass windows, Mary's robe is white, the color of purity, and she is frequently shown with a vase of white lilies. The three kings wear royal colors of red, gold, and purple.

Season after the Epiphany: First and last Sunday's white; other Sunday's green represents growth, a mark of honor, or the color of repentance.

Lent: Purple, a royal color that also signifies penitence and preparation.

Ash Wednesday: Gray or other dark earth tones are especially appropriate as are rough textures such a burlap or linen to suggest sack cloth and ashes. Purple, the Lenten color may be used.

Holy Week: Purple, the Lenten color may be used, or red may be used to symbolize the blood of Christ.

In stained glass windows, red may be the symbol of blood and suffering.

Easter: White and gold are joyous and festive colors to use at Easter season.

In stained glass windows, yellow or gold is symbolic of the sun, and hence the Son of God, however it can also represent deceit, jealousy, cowardice or treason.

Pentecost: Red or red on white. Red, the color of fire, represents the Holy Spirit.

Season after Pentecost: The basic color is green symbolizing growth in Christ. White is used on Trinity Sunday, All Saints Day, and Christ the King Sunday. Red may be used on civic holidays.

In stained glass windows, green is a symbol of hope.

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Bibliography:

1.) The Special Days and Seasons of the Christian Year. By Pat Floyd.
2.) Gospels in Glass: Stained Glass Windows in Missouri Churches. By Ken Luebbering & Robyn Burnett. 2000. 

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8/5/2019 Update: Wordless Gospel Book (or Pony Bead Bracelet) Color Meanings. 

My paternal grandmother, a primary Sunday School teacher, once showed me a book made of construction paper, she had made to tell her students the gospel story. She cut the construction paper in half widthwise and then stapled it together in this order.

1. Navy (Dark Heart) = Sin - Romans 3:23 - Everyone sins

2. Red - Blood - 1 John 1:7, 9 - Jesus' blood covers our sins and

3. White - (Pure Heart) - Psalm 51:7 - Washes away our confessed sin

4.  Yellow - Heaven - John 14:2 - Believe on Jesus and receive eternal life

5. Green - Grow - 2 Peter 3:18 - grow in the knowledge of the Lord.

10/22/2019 Update: Here's an article on color coding your Bible! 

2/10/2022 Update: If you go to summer camp-meeting, be sure to wear blue, green, purple, and/or white as mosquitos aren't as attracted to those colors as they are to red and black.