When: The 4 weeks preceeding Christmas

What: Beginning the Christian year is Advent, which is a season of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ and looks forward to the future reign of Christ. Advent has been described as a "little Lent" although the "Alleluia" continues to be sung during the liturgy. The 4 weeks in Advent represent the 400 years between the Old & New Testaments where God is silent and we wait in anticipation of the coming Messiah. Advent is a preparation for rather than a celebration of Christmas so Advent hymns should be sung instead of Christmas carols. A common celebration is the lighting of a candle each week, celebrating a different theme that Jesus brings (Hope, Peace, Joy, Love), with the Christ candle being lit on Christmas day.

Color: Royal Purple (symbolizing the sovereignty of Christ) is normally the liturgical color. Blue is also sometimes used to distinguish the season from Lent. As the color of the sky, Blue symbolizes Christ who in one ancient Advent song is called the "Dayspring" or source of day. Pink or Rose is often used during the 3rd week to represent Joy.

When: Always December 25

What: The church reflects on and celebrates the Incarnation (or embodiment) of God as a human being: "The Word became a human being and lived among us and we have seen his glory..." (John 1:14). In Christ, God enters human history and identifies fully with the human condition. The Christmas celebration begins on Christmas Eve and continues for the next "twelve days of Christmas."

Color: The traditional colors of the season are White or Gold symbolizing joy in the light of day.

When: Always January 6 (12 days after Christmas)

What: Marking the 12th and final day of the Christmas celebration, Epiphany is observed as a time of focusing on the mission of the church in reaching others by showing Jesus as the Savior of all. In fact, the term "Epiphany" actually means "to show" or "reveal." Like the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child thus revealing Jesus to the world as Lord and King, so too we are to go out and reveal Him to the world.

Color: The colors of Epiphany are usually the colors of Christmas, White and Gold, the colors of celebration, newness, and hope that mark the most sacred days of the church year.

When: January 7 - Ash Wednesday

What: The season following Epiphany continues the theme established on Epiphany Day: the spread of the Good News of Christ from its source in the Jewish community to all nations on earth. The theme of this season (along with the sequence of readings from the Gospel) continues in the season after Pentecost, so both seasons together can be called the "Time of the Church." The traditional liturgical color for both seasons, Green, is the color of growth.

Color: Green

When: The 40 Days (excluding Sundays) preceeding Palm Sunday

What: Beginning on Ash Wednesday, the next 40 days (Sundays are counted separately) are a time of testing, introspection, self examination, and repentance of our sinful lives before the Holy God. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events such as: the number of days water continued to rain down during the flood while Noah was aboard the ark, the years Moses led the Israelites through the desert, but especially with the days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations to abandon his mission and calling.

Color: Purple, Grey, Red Violet

When: The week preceeding Easter

What: Beginning on Palm Sunday, the next 7 days are a time to remember and reflect on the final days of Jesus' earthly ministry. Palm Sunday is the celebration of Jesus as king, as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people laid palm branches on His path. During this week, Maunday Thursday is a time to remember Jesus' last supper with His disciples and the "new command" (John) He gives us..."To love one another". His suffering culminates on Good Friday when we remember His physical, mental, and spiritual suffering as He died on the cross, bearing the weight of the guilt of the sins of humanity.

Color: Purple, Red, Black

When: Easter Sunday (the actual date varies, Click here for more info) - Pentecost

What: Easter is perhaps the most joyous and significant event in all of history, the moment when Jesus conquered death itself by rising from the grave. This power proved once and for all that He is God and that the work of salvation is completed. Because of this, we can have a relationship with God and are granted a secure eternity with Him if we accept Jesus' sacrifice. The 49 days following Easter are a time of celebration of Jesus resurrection as He appeared to His disciples on numerous occasions. Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after having conquered the grave.

Color: White

When: 50 days following Easter

What: Pentecost comes from "pent" which literally means "fifty". The celebration marks the point when, fifty days after Jesus resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and began His ministry of pointing people to Jesus. Never before had God indwelt believers so personally that He would call them His "temple". Because of the work of Jesus on the cross, God could now join His perfect Spirit directly with the sinful human heart and seal it as His own for all eternity.

Color: Red

When: Pentecost - Advent

What: This, the final season of the Christian year, is the longest season and is the time where the church focuses on outreach and fulfilling the call Jesus gave right before His ascension- "...to go and baptising every nation" using His power given through the Holy Spirit.

Color: Green

Royal Blue is the color of royalty to welcome the coming of a King. It can also symbolize the night sky in which the star appeared to announce the birth of Jesus. While purple has traditionally been the liturgical color for Advent, Royal Blue is increasingly used for Advent to distinguish it from Lent.

Bright Blue symbolizes the sky or heaven, where heralds proclaimed Jesus' birth. It can also symbolize the waters of Genesis 1, the beginning of a new creation. It is increasingly used for Advent to distinguish it from Lent.

Pink symbolizes joy and happiness. It is used for the Third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy at the impending birth of Jesus.

Rose also is used to symbolize joy and happiness, and is an alternate color for the Third Sunday of Advent.

White symbolizes purity, holiness, and virtue, as well as respect and reverence. White is used for all high Holy Days and festival days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of Christmas and Easter, as well as for baptism, marriage, ordination, and dedications. It is also used for funerals as a symbol of the resurrection.

Because of its brightness, metallic silver is sometimes used as an alternate color for white.

Gold symbolizes what is precious and valuable, and so symbolizes majesty, joy, and celebration. Because of its brightness, metallic gold also symbolizes the presence of God. It is most often used with white for high Holy Days and festival days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of Christmas and Easter. It is also sometimes used as a secondary color for other seasons.

Yellow symbolizes light which in turn is a symbol of the presence of God. It is also symbolic of renewal and hope, especially in the resurrection of Jesus. It is often used as an alternate color for gold when white is used as a sanctuary color. It is sometimes used with white for Easter.

Green symbolizes the renewal of vegetation and generally of living things and the promise of new life. It is used for the Season of Epiphany between Transfiguration Sunday and the beginning of Lent, and for Ordinary Time between Trinity Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost) and the beginning of Advent.

Light Green is sometimes used as an alternate color for Green during Ordinary Time. Some churches use Light Green before Lent (Season of Epiphany) and Green after Pentecost.

Purple can symbolize pain, suffering, and therefore mourning and penitence. It is the liturgical color for the Season of Lent. It is also the color of royalty, so traditionally has also been used for Advent. However, Blue is replacing purple for Advent in many churches.

Red Violet or Violet is also a symbol for pain and suffering, and is used as an alternate color for the Season of Lent.

Gray is the color of ashes, and therefore a biblical symbol of mourning and repentance. It can be used during Lent or on special days of fasting and prayer.

Black represents death and mourning. It is used only on Good Friday and Holy Saturday before the Easter Vigil, with no other decorations or colors. Sometimes black is used to cover other sanctuary symbols or to drape the sanctuary cross on Good Friday.

Red is the color of fire and so symbolizes the presence of God. It is the liturgical color for Pentecost. It is also considered the color of the Church, since red can also symbolize the blood of martyrs. It is sometimes used for Maundy Thursday and during Eastertide. In some traditions it is used to commemorate special days for martyrs or saints.

Olive is sometimes used as a Church color during Ordinary Time.

Aqua is sometimes used as a Church color during Ordinary Time.