In many church traditions, different colours are used to identify liturgical seasons and convey spiritual themes. The Anglican tradition – known for its love of symbolism and ceremony – is no different! We have a liturgical calendar that outlines the seasons of the church year, and each season has particular colours associated with it.
Not every liturgical calendar has the exact same dates or colours, but it’s typically something like this:
All the colours hold various meanings, usually derived from centuries of Christian symbolism and biblical imagery. You’ll see them throughout church buildings, in stained glass windows, altar coverings, paintings and banners. Some clergy wear liturgical vestments over different seasons, like a vicar wearing a purple stole (which looks like a long scarf) during Advent or Lent.
Let’s look at these colours, and then you can see if you’re able to spot any next time you’re at church.
Green represents God's revelation to humanity, and so is associated with the feasts that celebrate this: Epiphany and Pentecost. It’s also used for Ordinary Time – the period we live our lives when neither in feasting or in penance. It symbolises growth, freedom from bondage, hope and the victory of life over death.
Purple is traditionally a colour associated with royalty, and so symbolises the sovereignty of Christ. Typically used during the seasons of Advent and Lent, it represents penance, preparation, and solemnity, reminding believers of the need for self-reflection, repentance, and anticipation of the coming of Christ.
White is used during the seasons of Christmas and Easter, as well as for other major feast days and celebrations, such as the feasts of the Transfiguration and the Baptism of Christ. It symbolises purity, innocence and new birth. It is also used for weddings, baptisms, funerals and special occasions.
Gold symbolises what is precious or majestic, including glory, joy and celebration. Metallic gold also symbolises the presence of God. It’s often used interchangeably with white for the seasons of Christmas and Easter.
Red is used during Pentecost and Christmas, as well as on feast days commemorating martyrs and apostles. It symbolises the Holy Spirit, the blood of Christ and martyrdom. It’s also reminiscent of the sun, and the joy of life and love.
Black symbolises mourning, penitence and the somber reflection on Christ's passion and death. On Good Friday, the cross is veiled in sheer black and the altar is bare, with no other decorations or colours. Black may also denote death and fear.
As well as serving as visual cues to guide worshippers through the rhythm of the year, colours connect with different human senses than sermons or songs.
Next time you’re in an Anglican church, have a look around – maybe there are white candles lit for Easter, or a stained glass nativity scene with gold decorations, or purple banners hung during Advent, or a vicar wearing a red stole for Pentecost.
This article is based on Seasons of Liturgy in The Witness magazine, Autumn/Winter 2021.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
In many church traditions, different colours are used to identify liturgical seasons and convey spiritual themes. The Anglican tradition – known for its love of symbolism and ceremony – is no different! We have a liturgical calendar that outlines the seasons of the church year, and each season has particular colours associated with it.
Not every liturgical calendar has the exact same dates or colours, but it’s typically something like this:
All the colours hold various meanings, usually derived from centuries of Christian symbolism and biblical imagery. You’ll see them throughout church buildings, in stained glass windows, altar coverings, paintings and banners. Some clergy wear liturgical vestments over different seasons, like a vicar wearing a purple stole (which looks like a long scarf) during Advent or Lent.
Let’s look at these colours, and then you can see if you’re able to spot any next time you’re at church.
Green represents God's revelation to humanity, and so is associated with the feasts that celebrate this: Epiphany and Pentecost. It’s also used for Ordinary Time – the period we live our lives when neither in feasting or in penance. It symbolises growth, freedom from bondage, hope and the victory of life over death.
Purple is traditionally a colour associated with royalty, and so symbolises the sovereignty of Christ. Typically used during the seasons of Advent and Lent, it represents penance, preparation, and solemnity, reminding believers of the need for self-reflection, repentance, and anticipation of the coming of Christ.
White is used during the seasons of Christmas and Easter, as well as for other major feast days and celebrations, such as the feasts of the Transfiguration and the Baptism of Christ. It symbolises purity, innocence and new birth. It is also used for weddings, baptisms, funerals and special occasions.
Gold symbolises what is precious or majestic, including glory, joy and celebration. Metallic gold also symbolises the presence of God. It’s often used interchangeably with white for the seasons of Christmas and Easter.
Red is used during Pentecost and Christmas, as well as on feast days commemorating martyrs and apostles. It symbolises the Holy Spirit, the blood of Christ and martyrdom. It’s also reminiscent of the sun, and the joy of life and love.
Black symbolises mourning, penitence and the somber reflection on Christ's passion and death. On Good Friday, the cross is veiled in sheer black and the altar is bare, with no other decorations or colours. Black may also denote death and fear.
As well as serving as visual cues to guide worshippers through the rhythm of the year, colours connect with different human senses than sermons or songs.
Next time you’re in an Anglican church, have a look around – maybe there are white candles lit for Easter, or a stained glass nativity scene with gold decorations, or purple banners hung during Advent, or a vicar wearing a red stole for Pentecost.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
