vigil is the action of don't sleep at night. Normally, this sleep deprivation consists of a voluntary act, practiced mainly on the eve of festive dates, especially of a religious nature, such as Easter, for example.
However, wakefulness can also be related to sleep disturbances (insomnia), caused either by psychological causes, such as anxiety, stress or fear; as for neurological causes, such as hormonal dysfunction, for example.
In the biblical context, as said, vigils usually take place before important liturgical feasts, such as the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, for example. In these cases, it is common for prayer vigils, where the faithful spend the night praying together.
Learn more about meaning of easter.
In addition to the religious point of view, there are several other rituals that are characteristic for involving the practice of vigil.
Some of the main synonyms of wakefulness they are: insomnia, elucubration, zeal, care, night out and smart-ass.
The etymological origin of the word "vigil" is in Latin watch, which means "guard" or "watchman".
Easter Vigil
Also known as the Easter Vigil or the Great Vigil, this is one of the most popular celebrations. important in the liturgical calendar of Catholicism, as it is part of the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Easter Vigil begins at sunset on Holy Saturday and ends at dawn on Easter Sunday.
See also:meaning of Pentecost.