paraments

Church fabric decorations

Paraments are the decorative cloths and hangings used in churches—altar cloths, pulpit covers, and similar liturgical textiles.

The term appears mainly in ecclesiastical contexts, where paraments often change color according to the church calendar: purple for Lent, white for Easter, red for Pentecost.

The altar guild prepared the paraments for Advent.

craftsmanship

embroidery

Decorative stitching on fabric

goldworkEmbroidery using metallic threads
appliqueCutout sewn onto fabric
brocadeRaised-pattern luxury fabric

damask · silk · velvet · metallic thread · sacred symbols · religious iconography

liturgical

altar cloths

Liturgical table linens

stolesDraped shoulder garments
copesHandles difficulty successfully
veilsTranslucent face coverings

frontals · corporals · palls

seasonal

rose pink

Muted reddish pastel

church yearCalendar of religious seasons
feast daysReligious celebration dates

Opposites

sacred vs. secular function

paramentstheatrical costumes

Garments for dramatic performances

drop cloths

ceremonial vs. utilitarian purpose

paramentsrags

Torn cloth pieces

dust covers · tarpaulins

Family

vestment, vestments

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G