Candlelight vigil

A candlelight vigil at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington, part of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (2018)
Vigial candle
Vigil candle

A candlelight vigil or candlelit vigil or candlelight service is an outdoor assembly of people carrying candles, held after sunset in order to pray, show support for a specific cause, or remember the dead, in which case, the event is often called a candlelight memorial.[1] Such events may be held to protest the suffering of some marginalized group of people. A large candlelight vigil may have invited speakers with a public address system and may be covered by local or national media. Speakers give their speech at the beginning of the vigil to explain why they are holding a vigil and what it represents.[2] Vigils may also have a religious purpose that contains prayer and fasting.[1] On Christmas Eve many churches hold a candlelight vigil.

Candlelight vigils are seen as a nonviolent way to raise awareness of a cause and to motivate change, as well as uniting and supporting those attending the vigil.[3]

  1. ^ a b Shields, Bruce E.; Butzu, David Alan (2007). Generations of Praise: The History of Worship. College Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-89900-941-4.
  2. ^ "Do Something: how to organise a vigil". Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. ^ "love to know: Organise a candlelight vigil". Retrieved 28 December 2012.