What Are Christmas Stoles?
A Christmas stole is a liturgical stole — the long, narrow band of cloth worn around the neck and falling from the shoulders, the vestment that symbolizes priestly authority (Wikidata Q732034, stole). Priests wear it over the alb for the celebration of Mass. The Christmas stole is the seasonal form of that vestment, embroidered with a Nativity motif and worn during the Christmas season. All 3 stoles in this category are embroidered priest's stoles made for the Christmas liturgies.
Design and Motifs
The defining image across this collection is the Holy Family — the embroidered depiction of Jesus, Mary and Joseph of the Nativity, which appears on the stole as the central motif. One of the models, the "Christmas stole (163)" at $137.00, is described as an embroidered stole with the image of the Holy Family. The other models carry rich liturgical embroidery worked in high-quality thread on smooth fabric, giving each stole the character of an embroidered Christmas vestment.
Fabrics and Colour
These stoles are made on smooth liturgical fabric in the colour ecru. The "Embroidered stole - Christmas" model names its fabric as "Italian tropic" and its colour as ecru; the "Christmas stole (163)" is likewise described as smooth fabric in ecru. Ecru — a warm off-white — sits beside the white and gold that the Christmas season calls for, and reads well against the gold embroidery.
Length and Fit
The stole is worn over the shoulders with two equal lengths hanging down the front. The "Embroidered stole - Christmas" model in this collection is listed at 120 cm (47.24 in). Length is the measurement to check when comparing stoles: measure a stole you already wear, from the back of the neck down one side, and match it to the listings here.
When Are Christmas Stoles Worn?
The Christmas season celebrates the birth of Christ on 25 December and, in the Western Church, follows Advent — the period of preparation that begins on the First Sunday of Advent (Wikipedia, Christmas). Christmas stoles are worn for the Masses of that season, alongside the white and gold vestments of Christmas. For the colour and season detail, see the guides Christmas Vestment Colors: What to Wear from Advent to Epiphany and Stole Colors by Liturgical Season.
How Much Do Christmas Stoles Cost?
Christmas stoles in this collection range from $100 to $137.00, with 3 models available. The entry model, the "Christmas stole", is $100.00; the embroidered "Embroidered stole - Christmas" is $129.00; and the "Christmas stole (163)" with the Holy Family image is $137.00. Each is a single embroidered priest's stole — the price reflects the fabric and the embroidery, not a full vestment set.
Coordination and Gift Use
These stoles belong with the Christmas vestments of the sacristy and can be worn alongside the embroidered Christmas chasubles offered in the same store. The descriptions also note that a stole of this kind is an excellent choice as a gift for a priest on the occasion of ordination, primacy or a priesthood jubilee. If you are buying as a gift, the full range of embroidered stoles offers the same embroidery in other seasonal and saintly motifs.
Care
Embroidered stoles are best preserved by gentle handling: store them flat or rolled to avoid creasing, and do not iron directly over the embroidery or the gold thread. The exact care instructions for each model are given on its own product page. For wider advice on looking after embroidered vestments, read How to Care for Embroidered Vestments.
Shipping and Returns
Shipping is calculated at checkout by weight and destination, and the store ships worldwide. For the terms that apply to your order, see the shipping information and the returns policy.
