What do white and gold vestments represent at Christmas and Easter?

In the liturgical tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, white and gold vestments are worn during the seasons of Christmas and Easter to signify celebration and joy.1

While white is traditionally used as a symbol of purity on feasts of the Lord, the Congregation of Rites authorized the use of gold vestments in 1868 as a permissible alternative to white, red, and green. These colors serve to highlight the festive nature of these primary seasons in the liturgical year, which reenact the saving events of the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.21