memorial service
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memorial service
An official event or ceremony held to remember a deceased person or an important historical event.
Die Stadt veranstaltet jedes Jahr eine Gedenkfeier für die Opfer des Krieges.
The city holds a memorial service for the victims of the war every year.
The word is made up of '(das) Gedenken' (commemoration/remembrance) and 'die Feier' (celebration/ceremony). It therefore describes a ceremony dedicated to remembering a person or an event.
Die Gedenkfeier findet am Jahrestag des Ereignisses statt.
The memorial service takes place on the anniversary of the event.
A memorial service is typically 'abgehalten' (held), 'veranstaltet' (organized/held), or 'organisiert' (organized). As a participant, you can 'teilnehmen' (take part) in a memorial service.
Die Universität veranstaltet eine Gedenkfeier für den verstorbenen Professor.
The university is holding a memorial service for the deceased professor.
To express whom or what is being remembered, German often uses the preposition 'für' with the accusative or a construction with 'zum Gedenken an' plus the accusative.
Es gab eine Gedenkfeier für die Opfer des Unglücks.
There was a memorial service for the victims of the accident.
memorial service
Both words refer to an event held in memory of a deceased person. A Trauerfeier is usually part of the immediate farewell and often takes place before the burial, while a Gedenkfeier can also take place later. Trauerfeier fits the farewell, while Gedenkfeier is more appropriate for remembering someone at a later time.
Zum ersten Todestag lädt die Familie zu einer Gedenkfeier ein.
For the first anniversary of her death, the family invites people to a memorial service.
Die Familie lädt vor der Bestattung zu einer Trauerfeier ein.
The family invites people to a memorial service before the burial.
