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Out of all the holidays, Easter has the prettiest colors (Valentine's Day is up there, it just doesn't offer the same depth and breadth—and, don't worry, we still love you, Halloween). There's just something about those pastels that make our Grandmillenial hearts beat a little faster! From the soft glow of cotton candy pink, pale sky blue, buttercream yellow, lavender, and mint green, all the Easter colors evoke springtime memories of dappled sunshine on grassy lawns and time spent with family. But beyond their beauty, Easter colors are packed with important meanings, as they mark the major transitions from Lent to Good Friday and then Easter Sunday. If you're curious to dig deeper into the symbolic meaning behind Easter colors, you're in the right place!
Learn more about the religious connotations and history behind Easter colors below, whether you observe the holiday yourself or are just curious about the significance behind all those charming pastels.
RED
Red is visually intense! So, unsurprisingly, red is associated with sacrifice, blood, martyrdom, and fire. It also symbolizes passion, and in this case, the passion of Christ. These images of destruction are also signifiers of a new start on the horizon. Red is the color of Palm Sunday, reports Catholic Financial Life.
In the Bible: "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'" (Isaiah 1:18.)
WHITE
White represents joy, love, virtue, holiness, and all things angelic, including the purity of Jesus Christ, as described by the Christian Resource Institute.
In the Bible: "And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light." (Matthew 17:2.)
PURPLE
Violet is the color of Lent, and specifically, the day that precedes Easter. That's why you frequently see this shade of purple in church sanctuaries. It was a precious dye in ancient times, which is why it's often associated with royalty, and represents penance, humility, and melancholy.
In the Bible: "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God . . . On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:13, 16.)
GREEN
When Easter is over, priests wear green. It's a hopeful color, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ and "the promise of new life," according to the CRI. Unlike the pastels, we associate with Easter eggs, the shade priests where is closer to a Kelly green.
In the Bible: "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever." (Psalm 52:8.)
GOLD
Similarly, yellow and gold are common colors to see during Easter traditions and celebrations. They represent the glorious resurrection of Jesus in all its light and are associated with the divine, fire, and all things precious.
In the Bible: "You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." (Psalm 18:28.)
PINK
Pink is a joyous color, says the CRI, and is also worn to represent the purity and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the Bible: "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land" (Song of Solomon 2:12.)
With all this in mind, today, Easter colors can extend beyond the bible references and include anything that brings you springtime joy, from pastel blue to usher in bluer skies and Peep-inspired yellows.
Shop Our Colorful Easter Picks:
writtenbykristen Jackalopes Wallpaper
& Other Stories Straw Bucket Hat
Williams Sonoma Floral Easter Wreath
Valentine's Day Shop Books & Reading
Williams Sonoma Easter Cake Truffles
CHWAIKA Ceramic Egg Holder
Pottery Barn Bunny Baby Easter Bucket
Hillhouse Home Sisi Silk Pillowcase
Rainbow Linen Napkins
Liberty Ruffle Bedspread
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Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
