Some of you may be wondering, “What should I wear to mass after Christmas?”
Well, we have the answer. You will find it below.
But first, let’s talk about what not to wear…
Red
While red clothing may be associated with Christmas, it’s now an acceptable color to wear throughout the year. Red is a universal symbol of energy, love and vitality. If you want to incorporate red into your wardrobe outside of the season of Christmas, consider wearing a red dress or outfit that features less poinsettias and more solid pieces.
Green
Green is the color of hope and joy. It is the liturgical color for the seasons of Ordinary Time and Pentecost. This means that it is the color worn by priest and deacon when they celebrate Mass during these times.
Green indicates growth, renewal, and life. During Ordinary Time, we are reminded that every day is a gift from God and should be lived to its fullest. We are renewed through our experiences with others as we grow in love. In this way, we live our lives fully: we connect with others so that love can flourish within us; we become living works of art as God works in us to make us into better people who will do good in this world; with others, we build a better world where all people can flourish; during Ordinary Time, it is not just about you or me but all of us together creating a world where everyone’s dignity is respected and everyone has equal opportunity to thrive
White
White is a color of purity and innocence. It is an emblem of cleanliness, joy and happiness. White has no meaning in itself. It means what we want it to mean, symbolizing one’s determination to be open, flexible and adaptable. The immaculate mother always wears white. In our materialistic world, the color white can be used as a reminder that we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
White is also associated with victory, having won against all odds; for example in chess or football games where a team has succeeded against tremendous opposition. It may also represent defeat if the person views the outcome as negative and feels overwhelmed by it.
White is the color of light and goodness; it protects us from darkness and evil spirits who might harm us while we sleep at night.
Orange
Orange is the color of Advent and often accompanies Christians in their observance of this season. Orange is also a color worn in remembrance of the martyrdom of saints. The color orange can complement many other colors, so feel free to wear it with any outfit you feel comfortable with!
Orange also has religious connotations. It’s a color associated with Lutherans as well as Pentecostals, so if you’re a part of one of those denominations, orange might be your jam (or not). But maybe you aren’t a Christian and are wondering what significance it might have for people who are. Well…it means something different depending on where you live outside North America (like brown in Germany). In general though, orange signifies vibrancy, joy and energy!
When should you wear orange?
Some Catholics will wear purple during Advent but it really depends on the individual. I think that wearing orange after Christmas is great because it takes up space from red! It’s important to consider what colors we wear because they do affect how others perceive us – for example black is seen as “sad” or “serious” whereas white conveys purity/innocence (NB: there could be lots more meanings for each colour depending on context). So by choosing an alternative colour like orange instead of red/green at Christmas time we’re making ourselves look more open minded about things like religion or culture which could be helpful when trying to connect with other people who may not share our beliefs.”
Blue
The color of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, blue is a color that is appropriate for every religious occasion. The first use of blue was to signify St. Mary’s participation in the Holy Trinity, as depicted by three blue hearts in an icon depicting her feast day. This icon has become so well known that it is being used as a model for many other celebrations, such as the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Most Holy Name of Mary.
According to Catholic symbolism, blue “signifies immaterial things,” which explains why it was used on St. Mary’s feast day because she participated in all three Persons of the Trinity; however, it can also be used in other liturgical colors because it represents purity and holiness. It also has a place at Christmas time as “the royal color” and “the color of Christ.”
Black
Black is probably the most common color worn to funerals in the Western world. In many cultures, it’s seen as a sign of respect and symbolizes grief and mourning. If you’re attending a funeral after Christmas, black is an appropriate color to wear. It’s important to note, however, that wearing black to mass is inappropriate. After Christmas and at all other times of year, your best bet is to wear white or a light pastel color (lighter colors are “cool” while darker colors are “warm”).
On the other hand if you’ve just celebrated Christmas with your family or friends, then it might be time for another celebration! Try replacing your usual uniform with something lighter this winter season!
Wear this color attire to mass now.
If you go to a Catholic mass, the celebrant will wear a colored vestment according to the day of the week or season. If it’s after Christmas, he will wear white until Epiphany (January 6). The vestments of the deacon and subdeacon are red. The server wears white or black cassock and surplice or cotta.
After Candlemas (Feb. 2), there is no change in color until Holy Week before Easter begins on April 14. During Holy Week, the liturgical color changes from green to purple on Palm Sunday (April 14). It stays purple through Maundy Thursday (April 18) and Good Friday (April 19), then changes back to red for Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday evening (April 20). From Easter Day through Pentecost Sunday (May 19), it is white again; on Pentecost Sunday it turns red again and remains that way through Advent—the four weeks before Christmas—until December 24, when it becomes white again for Christmas Day Masses.
Conclusion
Remember, the colors to wear after Christmas are white and gold! These are to be worn until Advent.
After Advent, we have the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. To remind you of this time period, the color green is worn at mass.
