The Colors of Lent

Since fabrics, such as banners and vestments, and veils for crosses, enhance worship like music, the theme of worship the historic Church uses color. Color usage was not as diverse in the past, mainly because dyes were expensive and it wasn’t as easy as it is today to get fabric in any color.

In modern times, we’ve developed the following general consensus: Green – green is the color for vegetation; therefore, it is the color of life. Green is the color for the Season of Epiphany and the Season after Pentecost. These two seasons are also called ‘Ordinary Time’ because the Sundays have no names, just ordinal numbers. Purple – In antiquity, purple dye was extremely expensive, so purple came to signify wealth, power, and royalty. Since as Christians we prepare for our King through reflection and repentance, purple has also become a penitential color. Therefore, purple is the color for the seasons of Advent and Lent; Blue – Blue is an alternative to purple during Advent. Blue represents the Virgin Mary, because she is known as the Queen of Heaven, it also represents Hope and the pre-dawn sky. Some churches use blue during Advent to avoid the penitential connotation of purple.

It is widely used as part of our English roots and noted as Sarum Rite Blue used in the English Salisbury Cathedral. White – Angels announced Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8-15) and His Resurrection (Luke 24:1-8). The New Testament consistently uses white to describe angels and the risen Lord (Matthew 17:2 and 28:3, Mark 9:3 and 16:5, John 20:12, Acts 1:10, and throughout Revelation.) In the ancient Church, people were given white robes as soon as they emerged from the waters of baptism. Therefore, white is the color for the seasons of Easter and Christmas. White is also used for secular holidays that are observed in the church and for funerals as it is the color of the Resurrection, and marriages. Red – Red is the color of blood, and therefore also of martyrdom.

Red is the color for any service that commemorates the death of a martyr. It is also an alternative color for the last week of Lent, which is called Holy Week. Red is the color for Pentecost Sunday and for ordinations because it is the color of fire and therefore also of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3). Black – Before the advent of modern dyes, all dress clothes were black – just look at any photograph taken in the 19th century. The main historical connotation of black is formality. Because we don’t wear black as often today, it has survived as a formal color only at extremely solemn occasions, such as funerals. For some people today, black immediately connotes a funeral. Black is actually rarely the color for funeral services today instead we use white. We do use black on Good Friday.

Rose – Rose (or pink) is used on the third Sunday in Advent known as Gaudete Sunday, stands for Rejoice in the Lord always, as we approach Christmas, and the fourth Sunday in Lent, known as Laetare Sunday, comes from Rejoice Oh Jerusalem. It is also known as Mothering Sunday and Refreshment Sunday. Gold – Gold is an alternative to white; it is often used with white.