Easter Sunday is the most important and celebratory day in the Christian liturgical calendar. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion. The liturgical color used to celebrate Easter Sunday has symbolic meaning and rich history behind it.
The Liturgical Color is White
The liturgical color for Easter Sunday is white. This color symbolizes purity, light, innocence, joy and glory. Wearing white vestments and decorating churches with white flowers and other decor ushers in the new life made possible by Christ’s resurrection.
White first became associated with Easter in the early church. In the 4th century AD, newly baptized adult converts to Christianity wore white robes during their baptism at Easter to represent being cleansed of sin and entering their new life in Christ. The rest of the faithful would also don white clothing in solidarity.
This tradition led to white being adopted as the standard color for all Easter services and celebrations. It endures as the liturgical color for the Easter season in Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox traditions today.
White Represents Purity and Joy
The color white evokes openness, perfection and purity. It is often used in weddings and christenings to signify new beginnings. White reflects and refracts light fully, representing the light of Christ coming back into the world. The Book of Revelation describes the saints who have been redeemed by Christ as wearing white robes in heaven.
White also suggests feelings of joy and celebration. It immediately catches the eye and uplifts the spirit. After reflecting on Christ’s somber crucifixion and death on Good Friday, Easter Sunday bursts forth in glorious white as the pinnacle of the Christian story of salvation.
Use of White in Easter Liturgies
On Easter Sunday, clergy in most denominations wear white vestments or robes. Any other liturgical garments, such as the stole, cope or altar frontals, are also white. Church interiors are decorated lavishly with white flowers and plants, fabrics, banners and other ornaments.
In Roman Catholic and some Anglican churches, the Paschal candle used throughout the Easter season is adorned with white wax, ribbons and flowers. In Orthodoxy, colorful spring flowers may augment the white decorations.
White baptismal garments may be worn by recent converts being baptized at the Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday night leading into Easter Sunday. They symbolize the new believers rising with Christ to walk in newness of life.
Exceptions and Variations
While white is the standard Easter color, some exceptions and variations occur:
- In Spanish-speaking countries, purple robes are used for Holy Week leading up to Easter, changing to white and gold on Easter Sunday.
- The Pope wears red vestments to celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass and Easter Sunday Mass.
- In some British and Canadian churches, clergy wear red stoles over their white garments on Easter.
- Eastern Orthodox clergy continue wearing their bright vestments in golds, reds, greens, blues and other colors during the Easter season to symbolize the light and joy of Christ’s resurrection.
Conclusion
White has become the customary color for Easter celebrations because of its meaningful connections to purity, new life, light and joy. It visually represents the spiritual hope and triumph of Christ overcoming sin and death that is at the heart of the Easter message. Churches worldwide deck their sanctuaries in white and clergy don white vestments to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
| Easter Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| White | Purity, Light, Joy |
| Red | Holy Spirit, Blood of Christ |
| Gold | Joy, Celebration |
| Purple | Repentance |