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What color vestments are worn at Mass and when are they worn?
Answer:
For the Roman rite of Catholic Church the required colors are white, red, violet (or purple), and green.
White vestments are worn during the Christmas and Easter seasons and at celebrations of the Lord (except of His passion), Mary, angels, saints who are not martyrs, All Saints day, and a few other specified feasts.
Red vestments are worn on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and other celebrations of the Lord's passion, Pentecost, the feasts of martyred saints, the evangelists and apostles.
Violet vestments are worn in Advent and Lent and for funerals (see exceptions below).
Green is used for everything else.
The following exceptions are allowed:
White or black may be worn for funerals.
There is a tradition in some places that may still be observed to wear rose (pink) vestments on "Rejoice Sunday", the 3rd Sunday of Advent, and "Be Joyful Sunday", the 4th Sunday of Lent.
On the more solemn days, the most festive vestments available may be used regardless of color. In the United States only, this includes gold and silver vestments actually made from cloth of gold or cloth of silver.
For Ritual Masses (for example weddings, ordinations, religious professions and anniversaries of these occasions) the color for the time of year, or white, or any festive color may be used. For Penitential Masses violet is used.
Other rites within the Catholic church and other Christian denominations have their own rules, although many Anglican and Lutheran Churches use the same colors as Roman Catholic Churches.