Colors and Activities for the Church Seasons

Traditionally, there are certain colors connected to each of the different Church Seasons, reflecting some aspect of what is being celebrated. These colors are displayed in the special clothing worn by the clergy, and sometimes by certain cloths that are used in the church building during that particular period of time.

Advent Season and Color

Advent marks the start of the Church Year, running from four weeks before, and up to, Christmas Day. It commemorates the time leading up to Jesus’ birth.

Color: violet (royalty)

Activities:

• Snacks can be purple grapes (cut up to avoid choking hazard), purple grape juice, or purple jelly. Jesus would probably have eaten grapes.
• Purple Christmas decorations can be made using purple craft and tissue paper.

Christmas Season and Color

The Christmas Season begins with the vigil on Christmas Eve, running from December 25 to January 5, the traditional twelve days of Christmas. (The Epiphany is January 6)

Color: white (joy, love, peace)

Activities:

• Treats can be white marshmallows and white grape juice.
• White craft paper can be used to make white candles and snowflakes for decorating.

Ordinary Time and Color

There is a period of Ordinary Time between the Epiphany (January 6) until Ash Wednesday. The Sundays of Ordinary time focus on various aspects of the life of Jesus and the Church.

Color: green (life, creation)

Activities:

• Snacks can be healthy green fruits and vegetables.
• A chart can be made of things that are green for each letter of the alphabet.

Lenten Season and Color

Lent recalls the forty days of fasting and temptation that Jesus spent in the wilderness. It is meant to be a period of fasting, prayer, and reading scriptures to prepare for Easter. Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (date varies) and lasts forty-four days.

Color: violet (royalty, penitence)

Activities:

• There can be a discussion about not having snacks or treats because Lent is a time of fasting.
• A chart can be made and illustrated, showing objects that are violet (purple).

Holy Week and Color

Holy Week commemorates the final days of Jesus’ pre-resurrection life. It runs from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday, and includes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Color: red (blood), white (for the Easter vigil)

Activities:

• Apple snacks can be made and eaten.
• Red craft paper hearts can be made that say "Jesus Loves Me" and worn on the front of the shirt.

Easter Season and Color

The feast of Easter Day commemorates Christ’s resurrection from the dead, which is the heart of the Christian Faith. The Easter Season runs for fifty days, from Easter Sunday up to Pentecost Sunday.

Color: white (joy, love, peace)

Activities:

• Popcorn and white grape juice can be used for snacks.
• White daisies, or other flowers, can be made to celebrate new life and used for decorations.

Pentecost Sunday and Color

Although this is not a season of days, it is important in that it commemorates the sending of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. This marks the beginning of the Christian Church.

Color: red (tongues of fire associated with the Spirit)

Activities:

• Snacks can be made from strawberries (cut up to avoid choking hazard) or strawberry-flavored treats.
• A paper fire with tongues of flame can be made. Each child will put his/her name and a "gift"(something he/she is good at) given by the Holy Spirit on a tongue of fire to add to the fire.

Ordinary Time and Color

Another period of Ordinary time follows Pentecost Sunday through to the last Sunday of Ordinary time, Christ the King. After this Sunday, the Church Year begins again with Advent.

Color: green (life, creation)

Activities:

• Snacks can be healthy green fruits and vegetables.
• A cardboard tree can be made that has leaves holding the children’s names and something that each of them considers to be a blessing.

For other seasonal devotions and activities see Devotion and Activities on Changing Seasons and Readings and Activities for Advent and Christmas.

Colors of the Church Seasons

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