Advent
Begins the church year (four Sundays before Christmas) as a time of waiting and preparation.
Colors: Blue or Violet.
Liturgical Holidays
Everything about the Lutheran Liturgical Calendar!
The Lutheran liturgical calendar is structured around two main cycles:
The Temporal Cycle -- seasons and movable feasts tied to Christ's life
The Sanctoral Cycle -- fixed commemorations of saints and specific events
Major Liturgical Seasons:
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Christmas
Celebrates Christ's birth, running 12 days from December 25 to January 5.
Colors: White or Gold.
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Epiphany
Begins January 6, focusing on Christ's revelation to the world, transitioning into Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany).
Colors: White then Green.
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Lent
A 40-day season of repentance and reflection starting on Ash Wednesday.
Colors: Purple or Violet.
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Holy Week & The Three Days (Triduum)
Includes Palm Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
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Easter (50 days)
Celebrates the resurrection from Easter Sunday through Pentecost.
Colors: White or Gold.
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Pentecost/Season After Pentecost
Focuses on the Holy Spirit, the early church, and Christ's reign (Ordinary Time).
Color: Green.
Principal Festivals and Fixed Feasts
(Jan 1), the Epiphany of Our Lord (Jan 6), the Purification of Mary and Presentation of Our Lord (Feb 2), and the Annunciation of Our Lord (Mar 25). Later highlights feature the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24), the Visitation (July 2), St. Michael and All Angels (Sept 29), All Saints' Day (Nov 1), and the Nativity of Our Lord on December 25. Key movable principal feasts include the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter), the Ascension of Our Lord, and Pentecost.