An Introduction to the Church’s Sacred Calendar
Advent
The Season of Advent starts the Church’s sacred calendar. It begins on or about November 30, and ends at sundown, December 24th. It is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ (“Advent” means “coming”).
The color of the paraments during Advent is blue.
Christmas
The twelve days of the Christmas season begin at sundown, December 24, and end January 5th. During these days the Church celebrates the nativity of Jesus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The color of the Sanctuary paraments during the Christmas season is white.
Epiphany
The season of Epiphany begins 13 days after Christmas, that is, on January 6, the Day of Epiphany. The word “epiphany” means “to shine out”, and refers to the shining out of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. During this season the Church focuses on the progressive revelation of the divinity of Jesus, beginning with the First Sunday after the Epiphany, which celebrates the Baptism of Jesus and the voice from heaven declaring Him to be God’s “beloved Son”, and ends with the last Sunday in Epiphany, which celebrates the Transfiguration of Jesus. The setting for mist of the readings in the season of Epiphany is Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
Except for the first and the last Sundays in this season, where the color is white, the color of the Sanctuary paraments during Epiphany is green.
Lent
Lent is a season of reflection on the human condition, the cost of our redemption, and repentance. It begins with Ash Wednesday, which occurs 40 days plus six Sundays before Easter. It ends with the joyful celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. As the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany focused on the person of Christ–He is God incarnate–the seasons of Lent and Easter focus on what this God-Man Jesus came to do, to bear our sin as the Lamb of God.
The color of the paraments during the season of Lent is purple.
Holy Week
Holy Week is the sixth week of Lent and is part of Lent, though an especially intense expression of the season. The observances of Holy Week correspond to the events of the original Holy Week. It begins on Palm Sunday-the sixth Sunday in the Season of Lent, also called the Sunday of the Passion. This is the day that Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem and was greeted by crowds waiving palm branches. It culminates with the Triduum, a period of three days which begins at Sundown on Holy Thursday, and ends at sundown Easter Day, a 72 hour period that overlaps a bit with the season of Easter. On Holy Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper and the institution of the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Good Friday is the Observance of Jesus’ crucifixion, and following that, Holy Saturday, is the observance of Jesus’ rest in the tomb.
The color of the paraments on Mandy Thursday is white to begin the service, but all the paraments are striped from the sanctuary before the service ends.
The color of the paraments on Good Friday is black.
Easter
The Season of Easter begins Easter morning and lasts 50 days. The final day is called Pentecost, which means “fifty,” and on this day the Church celebrates the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, as recorded in Acts 2. The fortieth day after Easter is celebrated as Ascension Day, because forty days after His resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven. The theme for this season, not surprisingly, is the resurrection and new life.
The color of the paraments during the Easter season is white.
Pentecost
The season called Pentecost is about a half year long. The themes of this long season are varied, and do not track events on the life and ministry of Jesus lie the other seasons do, but rather they bring various teachings of Jesus into focus.
The color of the paraments during Pentecost is green.