Modern Liturgical Calendar

Advent

Four weeks of preparation before the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Christmas

Recalling the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation to the peoples of the world.

Ordinary Time

Divided into two sections (one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and another lasting about six months after Easter Time), wherein the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus' teachings and works among his people.

Lent

A six-week period of penance before Easter.

Triduum

The holiest "Three Days" of the Church's year, where the Christian people recall the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Easter

50 days of joyful celebration of the Lord's resurrection from the dead and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit.

Ordinary Time

Divided into two sections (one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and another lasting about six months after Easter Time), wherein the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus' teachings and works among his people.

Traditional Liturgical Calendar

Advent

Theme: His Historical and Future Coming
Color: Violet
Mood: Somber anticipation, restrained joy that grows each day until Christmas,
rather like waiting for a new mother to give birth -- joyous,
yet restrained, hesitant, and humbled until the moment of the birth arrives
Symbols: Advent candles, empty crib, St. John the Baptist, the Ten Virgins
Length: the 4th Sunday before Christmas to 24 December.
The 1st of the 4 Sundays in Advent is known as "Advent Sunday";
the 3rd Sunday is known as "Gaudete Sunday."

Christmas

Theme: His Nativity
Color: White or Gold
Mood: Joy
Symbols: star, manger, candles, bells, mother and Child, the Holy Family, angels,
Christmas candle, 3 wise men, Christmas trees, holly and ivy, poinsettias,
Glastonbury thorn, mistletoe, Christmas roses, Yule log, cardinals, robins
Length: With regard to liturgical calculations: 25 December - 13 January
As a spiritual Season/liturgical cycle: 25 December - Candlemas

Epiphanytide

(Time after Epiphany)

Theme: His Childhood Continued, His public ministry
Color: Green
Mood: Joyous wonder
Symbols: Symbols of Christmas until Candlemas;
then: loaves and Fishes, Scallop shell, wine of Cana
Length: 14 January to the Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima

Theme: Babylonian Captivity, Man's Fallen State
Color: Purple
Mood: Penance
Symbols: chains, tears, Jeremias
Length: Septuagesima Sunday to Shrove Tuesday

Lent

Theme: Christ in the Desert, the Babylonian Captivity
continued from Septuagesima
Color: Violet
Mood: Penance
Symbols: Cross, crown of thorns, three nails, Chalice, Host
Length: Ash Wednesday to Vespers of Holy Saturday

Triduum

Theme: The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Color: White on Holy Thursday, Red on Good Friday, Violet on Holy Saurday, White or Gold on Easter Sunday
Mood: Mix of Joy, Sadness, and Penance
Symbols: Holy Oils, Eucharistic Procession and Reposition, Adoration of the Holy Cross, The Light of Christ
Length: Vespers of Holy Thursday to Vespers of Easter Sunday

Easter

Theme: The Resurrection
Color: White or Gold
Mood: Joy
Symbols: empty tomb, the Paschal Candle, egg, peacock,
lamb, phoenix, bells, butterflies, flowers
Length: Easter Sunday - Vespers of Trinity Sunday

Pentecostide

(Time after Pentecost)

Theme: The Church Age, the Millennium, the Kingship of Christ,
anticipation of His Second Coming
Color: Green
Mood: gratitude, work, anticipation
Symbols: Peter's Key, the letter "M" for "1,000," Crown
symbolizing Christ's Kingship, any symbol for the Church
Length: Trinity Sunday to the day before Advent Sunday