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.
commemoration
'das Gedenken' and 'die Gedenkfeier' both have to do with the conscious remembrance of a deceased person or an important historical event. The difference is: 'Gedenken' means the remembrance itself, or the attitude of remembering. A 'Gedenkfeier' is a specific event at which this commemoration takes place. So you can take part in the act of remembrance, but if you mean the date, place, or program, 'Gedenkfeier' is more precise. Learners easily confuse the words because a Gedenkfeier usually serves the purpose of Gedenken.
Am Sonntag besuchen Lena und ihre Nachbarn eine Gedenkfeier auf dem Friedhof.
On Sunday, Lena and her neighbors attend a memorial service at the cemetery.
Das Gedenken an die verstorbene Lehrerin war für die ganze Klasse wichtig.
The remembrance of the teacher who had passed away was important for the whole class.