<P> There is a distinction between the colour of the vestments worn by the clergy and their choir dress, which with a few exceptions does not change with the liturgical seasons . </P> <P> In the Roman Rite, as reformed by Pope Paul VI, the following colours are used . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Color </Th> <Th> Obligatory usage </Th> <Th> Optional usage (in lieu of prescribed obligatory colour) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Green </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Sundays and Ferias in Ordinary Time </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Violet </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Sundays and Ferias of Advent </Li> <Li> Sundays and Ferias in Lent </Li> <Li> Liturgies on Holy Saturday (except for the Easter Vigil) </Li> <Li> Sacrament of Reconciliation </Li> <Li> Sacrament of the Sick </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> All Souls' Day </Li> <Li> Requiem Masses and offices for the dead </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rose </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) </Li> <Li> Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday in Lent) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> White </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Christmastide (from (Vigil) of Christmas to the Baptism of the Lord) </Li> <Li> Holy Thursday </Li> <Li> Easter season (from the Easter Vigil up to the Vigil of Pentecost) </Li> <Li> Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity </Li> <Li> Feasts of Our Lord other than those of His Passion </Li> <Li> Marian feast days </Li> <Li> Feasts of the Angels </Li> <Li> Feasts of non-martyred saints or confessors </Li> <Li> Feast of St. John </Li> <Li> Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter </Li> <Li> Feast of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle </Li> <Li> The Nativity of St. John the Baptist </Li> <Li> Feast of All Saints </Li> <Li> Sacrament of Baptism </Li> <Li> Sacrament of Matrimony </Li> <Li> Sacrament of Holy Orders </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Requiem Masses and offices for the dead where the Conference of Bishops has permitted it . </Li> <Li> Votive Masses and other Masses where Green is normally used . </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Red </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Palm Sunday </Li> <Li> Good Friday </Li> <Li> Pentecost </Li> <Li> Feasts of the Passion of the Lord </Li> <Li> Feasts of Martyrs, Apostles, and Evangelists </Li> <Li> Sacrament of Confirmation </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Red Masses and other votive Masses of the Holy Spirit . </Li> <Li> Papal funeral (Red is the colour of mourning for popes according to an ancient Byzantine custom) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Black </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> All Souls' Day </Li> <Li> Requiem Masses </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Color </Th> <Th> Obligatory usage </Th> <Th> Optional usage (in lieu of prescribed obligatory colour) </Th> </Tr>

What colour does the church use during the season of christmas