a truly white object is clean and free from stains (which would make it not white), thus “pure”.
In ancient times there was a purple dye made from certain shellfish found in the Mediterranean Sea. It was very expensive such that only the very wealthy, such as royalty, could afford to buy purple cloth made with this dye. In some places its use was restricted to the upper classes or royalty by law.
Traditionally, yes, but blue is not an official liturgical color.
Green represents Ordinary Time, silver is a variant of white, as it is a white metalic sheen.
Now, I’m confused. I was taught that while purple is the color of royalty, that blue could be substituted. In our Parish, the priest choose to do Advent with Blue in place of the Purple. Come to think of it, I totally missed any Rose on the third week. Any enlightenment??
Depending on what you mean, this may have been permissible. If blue was used in some church decorations instead of purple, or if blue candles were used instead of purple candles in the advent wreath, this may be allowed as church “art & environment” decorations and the advent wreath are not, strictly speaking, liturgical objects. But the celebrant’s vestments are, so those should conform to the official liturgical colors which do not include blue. This does not mean a celebrant’s vestments can never have any blue in them, but that the chief color should not be blue.
Rose is an optional color. The celebrant may choose to wear purple instead. Many priests do not even have rose vestments, as they would only be able to wear them twice a year anyway.
it’s traditional.I should clarify that this is not universal. In most ikons I have seen, Mary is pictured wearing red. Still, it is very common in western art to picture Mary as wearing blue.
Was it a bright blue, or royal blue? or more of a purply blue?
Easter is white.
My bad, Easter is White.
Ehhh… If it could reasonably be described as purply, then technically I suppose one could claim that it is actually purple, which is mandated. So it may have been permissible.