Easter Sunday is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday. Many traditions and customs have developed around Easter over the centuries, including wearing new clothes and Easter egg hunts. One tradition that has become popular in recent years is wearing the color purple on Easter Sunday.
The Significance of the Color Purple
In Christianity, the color purple is significant for a few reasons. During the events leading up to Easter, purple symbolizes penance and mourning. It is the color worn by priests in the days leading up to Easter. After Easter Sunday, purple is a color of celebration and royalty, symbolizing the sovereignty of Christ.
Purple is a mix of blue and red. Blue represents the human nature of Christ, while red symbolizes the blood he shed on the cross. Therefore, purple perfectly embodies the humanity and divinity of Jesus. It’s a color that represents both mourning and celebration, sadness and joy.
Wearing Purple on Easter Sunday
Wearing purple on Easter Sunday has become a popular way for Christians to visually display their faith. It allows believers to outwardly demonstrate their celebration of the Resurrection. It also shows their trust and hope in Christ’s sovereignty.
The exact origins of this tradition are unclear, but it seems to have started gaining popularity in the 2000s. Church leaders began encouraging their congregations to wear purple on Easter Sunday as a symbolic demonstration of their beliefs. The color helps connect churchgoers to the messages and themes of Easter.
This tradition has grown more common over recent years. Now many Christians wear purple dresses, suits, ties, hats, and more to Easter church services across the country. The vibrant purple clothes amidst spring flowers helps make the celebration of Christ’s resurrection visually stunning.
Variations by Denomination
Not all Christian denominations have the same practices around wearing purple on Easter. Here are some differences:
- Catholics: May wear purple as they enter church, but change to white or gold for the remainder of the service.
- Anglicans/Episcopalians: Frequently wear purple throughout the Easter service.
- Lutherans: May wear purple to signify penance leading up to Easter.
- Methodists: Do not have a widespread tradition of wearing purple on Easter.
- Orthodox: Wear brightly colored spring clothes instead of purple.
So while the custom is common across many denominations, not all follow it strictly. Local traditions and personal preferences may lead to variations.
Purple in Other Easter Traditions
Purple also shows up beyond just Easter Sunday clothing:
- Prayer shawls: Some churches have members knit purple prayer shawls for newly baptized Christians.
- Altar cloths: Purple altar cloths are sometimes used to drape crosses and holy tables.
- Flowers: Purple flowers like hyacinths, violets, and lilacs are popular decorations.
- Easter eggs: Along with many other colors, Christians may dye Easter eggs a deep purple hue.
So purple has significance throughout many Easter customs, beyond solely what people wear on Sunday. It connects many parts of the holiday celebration to the meanings behind it.
Biblical References to Purple
There are a few prominent mentions of the color purple in the Bible that relate to its meaning in Christianity:
- Mark 15:17 – They put a purple robe on Jesus before his crucifixion, mocking his claim to be a King.
- Acts 16:14 – Lydia, an early convert to Christianity, worked as a seller of purple fabrics.
- Exodus 26 – Purple yarn was used for the curtains of the Tabernacle, representing royalty.
- Judges 8:26 – Gideon took purple raiment from kings as plunder, showing purple as a sign of status and nobility.
These passages depict purple’s association with royalty, status, mockery, and faith. This biblical foundation gives deeper meaning to purple Easter traditions.
A Sign of Unity
Wearing purple on Easter Sunday provides a symbolic sense of unity for Christians. When entire congregations dress in the color, it creates a powerful visual statement. The sea of purple shows their shared identity in Christ.
This feeling of unity is amplified when different church communities wear purple. Whether Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, or other denominations, the purple clothing demonstrates their common faith in the Resurrection. It binds the diverse strands of Christianity together.
In a religion with many perspectives and traditions, the simple act of wearing purple fosters a feeling of oneness. It’s a way for the global church to come together as one body.
Criticisms and Controversies
While widely popular, wearing purple on Easter has generated some criticisms:
- Consumerism – Critics argue the tradition promotes consumerism, with families pressured into buying new Easter outfits they don’t need.
- Obscures meaning – Some claim the color distracts from the true spiritual meaning of Easter Sunday.
- Exclusionary – Poor families may feel excluded if they cannot afford purple clothing.
- Not Biblical – The Bible does not specifically instruct wearing purple on Easter, leading some to claim it is fabricated tradition.
However, most modern churches stimulate purple Easter outfits without mandating them. They want to encourage participation but not impose obligations. This allows families to celebrate in a way meaningful for them.
Matching Other Liturgical Colors
Purple is not the only color with special meaning in the Church calendar. Different colors match with seasons and holidays throughout the year:
| Liturgical Color | Meaning | Holidays/Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| White | Purity, light, innocence | Christmas, Easter |
| Red | Blood, fire, Holy Spirit | Pentecost, feasts of martyrs |
| Green | Hope, growth, life | Ordinary Time |
| Violet/Purple | Penitence, mourning, royalty | Lent, Advent |
| Black | Sorrow, death | Funerals, All Souls Day |
By selecting colors with purpose throughout the year, churches connect deeper meaning to the entire liturgical calendar.
Starting New Traditions
Wearing purple is a relatively new Easter tradition, only dating back a few decades. But it has quickly gained popularity and significance. This shows how traditions continue to evolve, even within ancient holidays like Easter.
New Easter customs emerge from grassroots church efforts, clerical leaders, and community trends. As ideas spread, they gain wider acceptance across denominations. They help keep the holiday relevant for modern Christians.
The purple tradition is one way to reignite the original meanings of Easter with fresh perspective. Visual symbols like purple clothing engage the senses and imagination. This helps teach the eternal story of Christ’s resurrection to new generations.
Rather than being bound to archaic traditions, Christianity flexes for modern times. That’s how wearing purple on Easter Sunday took root as an inventive new custom. And no doubt more traditions will originate in the future.
Making Purple Part of Your Easter
If you want to participate in this tradition, here are some tips:
- Buy a new purple outfit you feel comfortable and confident in.
- Accessorize with purple earrings, necklaces, hats, or shoes.
- Get purple dresses for girls and ties for boys.
- Search local stores right before Easter for sales on purple clothing.
- Craft homemade purple decorations like paper flowers or garlands.
You don’t have to be lavish or expensive with your purple attire. Simple touches like a purple scarf or tie work perfectly. Just accessorize however feels fun and meaningful for your family.
Conclusion
Wearing purple on Easter Sunday is a modern tradition that has become popular across many Christian denominations. It symbolizes the mournful passion of Christ leading up to the Resurrection as well as the royal, victorious sovereignty of Christ over death. By wearing purple, churchgoers visually display their faith and create a sense of unity. This new custom brings fresh meaning and perspective to the Easter holiday.