The Refreshment Sundays or Rose Sundays are Sundays within the two major
fasts observed in
Western Christianity
Western Christianity is one of two subdivisions of Christianity (Eastern Christianity being the other). Western Christianity is composed of the Latin Church and Protestantism, Western Protestantism, together with their offshoots such as the O ...
,
Lent and
Advent. On these days, the fast was allowed to be relaxed, hence the name "Refreshment Sunday". Correspondingly, the
liturgical colours of the season are replaced with rose, hence the name "Rose Sunday".
The Refreshment Sundays are:
*
Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent
*
Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent
Of these, the better known is Laetare Sunday, and if reference is made to a single "Refreshment Sunday" or "Rose Sunday" it is usually this Sunday that is meant.
It is also called
Mid-Lent Sunday,
Mothering Sunday,
Mother's Day, and Rose Sunday.
As noted, on both Refreshment Sundays, the colour of
vestments and church hangings is changed to rose. On Gaudete Sunday, where churches are using an
Advent Wreath with purple candles, the candle for the third Sunday in Advent is also rose instead of purple.
See also
*
Rosalia
References
*
Lent
Advent
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