Liturgical Colors

What is the significance of the colors of the vestments during the different times in the liturgical year?

From Catholic Encyclopedia:

In the Roman Rite, since Pius V, colours are five in number, viz.: white, red, green, violet, and black. Rose colour is employed only on Lætare and Gaudete Sundays. Blue is prescribed in some dioceses of Spain for the Mass of the Immaculate Conception.

White is the colour proper to Trinity Sunday, the feasts of Our Lord, except those of His Passion, the feasts of the Blessed Virgin, angels, confessors, virgins and women, who are not martyrs, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the chief feast of St. John the Evangelist, the feast of the Chains and of the Chair of St. Peter, the Conversion of St. Paul, All Saints, to consecration of churches and altars, the anniversaries of the election and coronation of the pope and of the election and consecration of bishops; also for the octaves of these feasts and from Holy Saturday to the vigil of Pentecost; it is used for votive Masses when the feasts have white, and for the nuptial Mass; also in services in connection with the Blessed Sacrament, at funerals, in the administration of baptism, and matrimony.

Red is used the week of Pentecost, on the feasts of Christ's Passion and His Precious Blood, the Finding and Elevation of the Cross, the feasts of Apostles and martyrs; and in votive Masses of these feasts. It is used on Holy Innocents if the feast occur on Sunday and always on its octave.

Green is used from the octave of the Epiphany to Lent, and from the octave of Pentecost to Advent, except on ember-days and vigils during that time, and on Sundays occurring within an octave.

Violet is used during Advent and from Lent to Easter, on vigils that are fast days, and on ember-days, except the vigil of Pentecost and the ember-days during the octave of Pentecost. Violet is also used for Mass on rogation-days, for votive Masses of the Passion and of penitential character, at the blessing of candles and of holy water. The stole used in the administration of penance and of extreme unction must be violet.

Black is used in some parts of the world but has largely fallen out of use. In the past it was mainly used in offices of the dead and Good Friday.


But to put it more simply:

White: Baptisms, Feasts of the Blessed Mother, Some of the feasts of Christ, weddings, funerals and Easter.

Red: Feasts of martyrs/Apostles and Pentecost.

Violet: Lent, Advent, penance (confession)

Green: Any time not already mentioned, ie: most of the year.

Black: Pretty much never.

Rose: One Sunday in Lent and one Sunday in Advent.