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What happens during the two periods called Ordinary Time in the Roman Catholic liturgical year?

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Church year A church altar decorated with saint icons for All Saints' Day.

In the Roman Catholic liturgical year, Ordinary Time refers to the periods outside of the major seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. Rather than focusing on a specific mystery of the life of Jesus Christ, these periods are dedicated to the unfolding of his life and teachings in their entirety.1

The two periods of Ordinary Time are structured as follows:

First Period: This segment begins after the Christmas season and continues until Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Lenten season.1
Second Period: This longer segment begins after Pentecost Sunday—the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit—and continues until the beginning of the next Advent season.1

During these times, the priest wears green vestments, which serve as a symbol of hope.1