What Are the Advent Colors?
Saturday, November 22, 2025
A Joyful Guide for Moms, Grandmothers & Teachers
Many moons ago, in a land not so far away, I served as an aide in an Atrium for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — the Montessori of religious education and, in my humble (and admittedly unqualified) opinion, the best RE ever.
One of the simple songs we taught the children went like this:
“Purple and green and red and white
Are the colors of the year!
Purple and green and red and white
Remind us of the Light!
Purple is for preparation
White is for celebration
Green is for the growing time
Red is for Pentecost.”
If you’ve ever walked into Mass during Advent and thought, “Why is Father wearing purple again?” — you’re not alone! Our Church is beautifully intentional, and even the colors we use during Advent are like little homilies for the heart.
So grab your coffee (or cocoa!), because today we’re diving into the story behind the colors of Advent — and how you can bring that meaning into your home for your smalls and littles.
💜 Violet (Purple): The Color of Royalty & Preparation
Purple is the primary color of Advent, and it carries a double meaning:
1. Preparation & Penance
Not the heavy kind — the hopeful kind.
Advent invites us to make room for Jesus. Purple reminds us to pause, reflect, soften our hearts, and clear out the clutter (spiritually and literally… hello, toy basket!).
2. Royalty
Purple was once the rarest dye, worn only by kings.
So when we see violet in Advent, we remember:
The King is coming.
It’s a color that bows our hearts in humility and lifts them in hope.
One of my favorite ways to bring purple into our home was through a simple purple cloth used as our Advent table runner. Small habits create big memories.
🌸 Rose (Pink): The Color of Joy
Ah yes — that pink candle your kids always notice first.
Rose is for Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent.
“Gaudete” means “Rejoice!”
It’s the Church cheering us on halfway through Advent:
“You’re almost there! Joy is breaking through!”
This color is your permission slip to celebrate early — cookies optional but highly encouraged.
❄️ Optional: White & Gold
While not officially “Advent colors,” white and gold burst onto the scene at Christmas.
They symbolize:
✨ Purity
✨ Glory
✨ The dazzling light of Christ
A simple way to remember:
Purple = preparing
Rose = rejoicing
White/Gold = celebrating!
🌟 A Saint’s Thought to Carry With You
“The season of Advent restores a quiet joy,
a confidence that God is near.”
— St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Bring these beautiful colors into your home — your table, your wreath, your children’s art projects, even your front door. Let them speak softly:
Hope. Joy. Jesus is coming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Advent is a Christian season of anticipation and preparation before Christmas, inviting us to reflect, pray, and wait in joyful hope for Jesus’ birth and His Second Coming.
Yes and no—the Jesse Tree marks the days of Advent like a calendar, but instead of treats it uses Scripture and symbols to help families prepare their hearts for Christ.
The lesson that changed everything is this: Christmas doesn’t end on December 25—it begins. Embracing the Church’s rhythm and living the Twelve Days with faith-filled traditions keeps Christ at the center, bringing true joy and peace.
Hi, I am Rebecca Even
CEO Of A.M.D.G. Productions LLC
Catholic author, Speaker, Songwriter but not a singer, Rebecca Even is a wife and mother with a passion for working with women especially mothers of all ages.
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