Christmas and the Epiphany.
Christmas is a season, not a single day. It begins on Christmas Day and keeps the Epiphany, when the wise men followed the star to the child (Matthew 2). In the Roman calendar it runs on to the Baptism of the Lord.
The days ahead
- Christmas DayFriday 25 December 2026 White or gold
- The EpiphanyWednesday 6 January 2027 (kept on Sunday 3 January 2027 in Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States) White
- The Baptism of the LordSunday 10 January 2027 White
- Christmas DaySaturday 25 December 2027 White or gold
- The EpiphanyThursday 6 January 2028 (kept on Sunday 2 January 2028 in Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States) White
- The Baptism of the LordSunday 9 January 2028 White
- The next dates appear here as the calendar turns.
What each tradition wears
- Roman Catholic
- White.
- Episcopal
- White or gold.
- Lutheran
- White.
- Methodist
- White and gold.
In the Episcopal Church and many other churches, Christmas is twelve days, to 5 January, and the Epiphany begins its own season.
Choosing
The white stole has a gold cross with wheat and vine leaves beneath it; the white simple cross stole has a gold budded cross on each end. White is worn at Easter too, so one white stole serves both great seasons of the year.
Sources: USCCB, Christmas; The Roman Missal, General Instruction ch. VI, ยงยง346 to 347 (USCCB); Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, Liturgical Colors & Seasons; Nebraska Synod (ELCA), The Colors of the Church Year; UMC.org, Colors, liturgical.
Christmas and Epiphany
