A vigil is a period of religious contemplation and prayer, often observed before major holidays or important life events. It can also be used to watch over the dead or as a form of protest and community awareness. The tradition has been observed for centuries across cultures.
A vigil is a period of intentional vigil reserved for religious contemplation, prayer, and other devotional activities. Many cultures have some sort of wake tradition in their religious beliefs, which suggests that the idea of staying awake for religious observances is appealing to many people, regardless of their cultural background. The idea of vigil has also been adopted in some communities to refer to any period of time specifically set aside for contemplation and vigilance, whether or not it requires vigil at unusual times.
The word “vigil” comes from the Middle English vigile, meaning “devoted observation.” This word in turn comes from the Latin veglia, which means “watch”. People have stayed awake for religious purposes for centuries, as evidenced by extensive artwork and writings, and awake periods continue to be an important part of many religions.
In many cultures it is traditional to sit and watch over the dead so that they are not left alone before burial, cremation or any other form of disposition. Typically the dead are arranged in a church or formal room in a home, and people may take turns watching or sitting together. During vigils for the dead, people can observe silent contemplation, or they can pray, socialize, and talk about the dead. This tradition is still observed in many cultures, with the end of the wake marked by the funeral.
Vigils have also historically been held on the eve of major religious holidays. Eastern Orthodox Christians often observe this tradition by gathering outside their churches on the eve of major holidays, waiting for the church to open for midnight mass and celebration, and some people also observe such vigils at home. Vigils were also used to set aside time for contemplation before an important life event, such as a wedding or the start of military service.
In some cultures, vigils are also used as a form of protest and to raise community awareness. People may stand vigil after a wrongful death, for example, signaling their grievances to a community, and many communities gather for candlelight vigils after tragedies to give people a chance to connect with one another. While this type of wake differs somewhat from a wake in the traditional religious sense, many people find such wakes very valuable, as they can provide an outlet for intense emotions.
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