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Vigil

Vigil is a period of purposeful wakefulness, typically undertaken to observe, prepare, or honor a person, cause, or event. It commonly refers to religious or spiritual practices—such as night vigils or vigil services—where participants pray, reflect, or keep watch during the hours of darkness. Beyond religious contexts, vigils are also held as acts of remembrance after tragedies, as expressions of solidarity, or to protest and draw attention to a cause. The term can describe both solitary and communal activities, and it may be timed to coincide with a specific anniversary, mourning period, or public event.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin vigilia, meaning wakefulness or watch, and from vigilare, to stay awake

Cultural and modern usage: In culture, "Vigil" has been used as a title for various works in

See also: vigilance, watch, remembrance.

or
keep
watch.
In
English,
vigil
has
long
carried
connotations
of
vigilance
and
careful
observation,
as
well
as
the
ritual
or
ceremonial
sense
of
maintaining
wakefulness
through
a
defined
period.
literature,
film,
and
other
media,
reflecting
themes
of
watchfulness,
uncertainty,
and
endurance.
It
also
appears
as
a
surname
and
as
the
name
of
places
or
organizations
in
different
regions.
In
contemporary
discourse,
vigils
continue
to
function
as
socially
recognized
acts
of
memorialization,
support,
and
public
expression,
ranging
from
hospital
wards
to
public
squares.