Originally Posted By tangaroa <a href="http://webpages.charter.net/micah/repjesus85.png" target="_blank">http://webpages.charter.net/mi cah/repjesus85.png</a>
Originally Posted By woody Hey, during Christmas, red is a festive color. During Easter, it represents blood. I think provides a needed contrast between birth and death, in four months flat.
Originally Posted By cmpaley In terms of sheer importance to our redemption, Christmas and the events we celebrate during the Easter Triduum (Holy/Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter) are equal. You can't have Easter without Good Friday and you can't have Good Friday without Christmas. Both show God's unspeakable love for us. For me, however, Christmas seems more personal. That God humbled Himself to the extent that He would enrobe Himself in human flesh taken from a human mother is simply awe inspiring because of the scope of what they entail. Don't get me wrong. The events we celebrate during the Easter Triduum are also awe inspiring. That little baby grew up and gave us His Body and Blood as food in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane and sweated blood, He was beaten mercilessly with a whip designed to as much damage and be as painful as possible, crowned with thorns and mocked, carried a heavy cross and had nails driven through His wrists and feet. That little baby died and resurrected Himself from the dead three days later. But first, He, knowing all that would happen to Him, humbled Himself...to become like us...you...and me...individually. That's just amazing to me.
Originally Posted By cmpaley Christmas and Easter share preparatory seasons and liturgical colors. Before Christmas is Advent and before Easter is Lent. During Advent and Lent, the liturgical color in the Western Church is violet or purple (some protestant sects allow blue during Advent) and during Christmas and Easter, the liturgical color is white and gold. During the Passion week, scarlet can be used as well and on Good Friday, the altar is laid bare and the tabernacle opened and empty.
