Just as there are seasons on our calendars at home, the Church has its seasons. This section gives a bit of background on the history, symbolism, and meaning of the various liturgical seasons, and what we do to make them special here at Pilgrim Church.

Advent

Advent is the first season of the Church year, and is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. The word “advent” derives from the Latin adventus, which means “arrival”. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, and lasts until December 24 (Christmas Eve). The liturgical colors of Advent are traditionally purple or blue.

Christmastide

Christmastide lasts from December 24 through January 5. This marks the birth of Jesus. The liturgical color for the season is traditionally white; however, some traditions also use gold. The traditional “twelve days of Christmas” that we sing about begin on Christmas Day or the day after (depending upon tradition).

Epiphany

Epiphany follows the twelve days of Christmas joy, and celebrates the baptism of Jesus and his manifestation to the world (the word “epiphany” is from the Greek for “manifestation”). Epiphany lasts from January 6 until the day before Lent (Shrove Tuesday). The liturgical color for the season of Epiphany is green, but many traditions use white on the first two Sundays.

Lent

Lent lasts forty days, from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter Sunday. For Christians, this is a time of reflection and preparation for the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The season culiminates with several very special services during the week before Easter (Holy Week). These include Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. The liturgical color of lent is traditionally purple, but during Holy Week there are many variations—including red for the first part of the week, and black (or a bare chancel) for Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Eastertide

Eastertide lasts fifty days, beginning on Easter Sunday. Following the somber end of Holy Week, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, his reappearence to his disciples, and his ascension. The color of the season is white (although again, some traditions use gold).

The date of Easter always causes some confusion, because it is tied to an astronomical event that happens on a different day each year. In addition, the Church seasons of Lent and Pentecost are set relative to the date of Easter, so these vary each year as well. Easter is (usually) on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the beginning of spring. See this page for a more precise definition of the date of Easter, and an explanation of why it is so complicated.

Pentecost

The word “Pentecost” derives from the Greek phrase for “fiftieth day”, and Pentecost Sunday is celebrated 50 days after Easter. The liturgical color for Pentecost Sunday is red, symbolizing the flames which appeared over the disciples as they were preaching. The color for the remainder of the season—the so-called “ordinary time”, which lasts until the first Sunday of Advent—is green, symbolizing the growth and hope of the Church.