The Christian Year
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|
SEASON |
DATES |
COLOUR |
MAIN THEMES |
|
ADVENT |
Four Sundays before Christmas |
Purple |
Waiting The promise of light in darkness Preparation for Christ’s coming and second coming |
|
CHRISTMAS |
24 December to 5 January |
White (or Gold up to Christmas 2) |
Christ’s birth as ‘the word made flesh’ The Incarnation |
|
EPIPHANY |
6 January (The Epiphany) to 2 February (Candlemas / Feast of the Presentation) |
White |
The Gospel for all people |
|
ORDINARY TIME |
3 February to Shrove Tuesday |
Green |
[sometimes a very short season] Growth (Creation) |
|
LENT |
Ash Wednesday to Eve of 5th Sunday in Lent |
Purple |
Penitence, seeking for God’s forgiveness, self denial Preparation for Easter (Lent was originally linked with Baptism) |
|
PASSIONTIDE (and Holy Week) |
5th Sunday in Lent to Easter Eve |
Violet or Red White at evening Eucharist on Thursday |
Jesus’ death on the Cross – our Salvation |
|
EASTERTIDE |
Easter Day to the Eve of the Ascension |
White (Gold on Easter Day) |
Jesus’ resurrection Resurrection hope for us all Living in the light of the Resurrection |
| ASCENSIONTIDE | Ascension Thursday to Pentecost | White (Red for Pentecost) | Waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit |
| ORDINARY TIME ‘Sundays after Trinity’ |
Day after Pentecost to 31 October | Green
(White for Trinity Sunday) |
Growth in faith Christian living Continuous reading of the scriptures |
| The ‘Kingdom’ Season | 1 November (All Saints) to Eve of Advent Sunday | Red (or Green) | The Kingdom of God The Faithful Departed (All Saints & All Souls) Remembrance Christ the King (Sunday before Advent) |
