A candlelight vigil is an outdoor assembly of people carrying candles, held after sunset. Such events are typically held either to protest the suffering of some marginalized group of people, or in memory of lives lost to some disease, disaster, massacre or other tragedy. In the latter case, the event is often called a candlelight memorial. A large candlelight vigil will usually have invited speakers with a public address system and may be covered by local or national media.
Such vigils may also have a religious or spiritual purpose. On Christmas Eve many churches hold a candlelight vigil.
Gallery
 Residents and members of the media gathered around the vigil in Kauhajoki, Finland one day after shooting incident |
 Pro-life candlelight vigil outside a Planned Parenthood location in Boston with rosary and Stations of the Cross |
References
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