| Times & Seasons of the Church Year |
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The Time of Christmas includes three Seasons: Advent Season, Christmas Season and Epiphany Season.
The Season of Advent: Advent is from a Latin word meaning "coming"; its emphasis is on preparation for the coming of Christ. The mood of Advent is one of hope, anticipation, and preparedness. There are four Sundays during Advent.
The Season of Christmas: Christmas begins on the evening of December 24, the Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord, and continues through January 5. Because of the nature of this singular event in the history of the world and its meaning for our salvation, the festival and season of Christmas is a time of great joy. The Nativity of our Lord includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Dawn, Christmas Day and is followed by two Sundays after Christmas.
The Season of Epiphany: The Epiphany of Our Lord falls on January 6 and commemorates the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. The Sunday after the Epiphany, the church observes the Baptism of Our Lord. Eight Sundays follow the Baptism of our Lord leading to the celebration of the Transfiguration of our Lord, which in turn is followed by the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.
The Altar Guild Manual by Lee A. Maxwell
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The Colors of the Time of Christmas:
Advent Season:
Purple is one of two colors that can be used during Advent; the other is Blue. Purple is the color of royalty, but also of sorrow and repentance. Blue is the color of spiritual love, fidelity, anticipation, and hope. It is the alternate color for Advent since the liturgical revisions of the 1960s, the tenor of the season is one of hope and anticipation of the coming of Christ.
Christmas Season:
White is the color of purity and eternity, symbolizing perfection, celebration, and joy. White is used for Christmas and its season and Epiphany and its season (usually until the Eve of the Second Sunday after Epiphany).
Epiphany Season:
Green is the color of life, refreshment and regeneration. It may also be used for the Epiphany season, from the Eve of the Second Sunday after the Epiphany until the Eve of the Transfiguration.
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