to make a pilgrimage / to flock
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to make a pilgrimage
To undertake a journey to a holy place for religious reasons; to go on a pilgrimage.
Jedes Jahr pilgern tausende Gläubige auf dem Jakobsweg nach Santiago de Compostela.
Every year, thousands of believers make a pilgrimage along the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela.
to flock
To go slowly and purposefully in large numbers to a certain place, often out of admiration or in order to take part in an event.
Die Fans pilgerten zum Stadion, um das letzte Konzert der Band zu sehen.
The fans flocked to the stadium to see the band's final concert.
As a verb of movement, 'pilgern' (to make a pilgrimage / to flock) forms the perfect tense with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). The destination of the movement is usually indicated with the prepositions 'nach' (to) or 'zu' (to).
Tausende von Gläubigen sind letztes Jahr nach Lourdes gepilgert.
Thousands of believers made a pilgrimage to Lourdes last year.
The verb 'pilgern' (to make a pilgrimage) is the activity performed by a person called 'der Pilger' (male pilgrim) or 'die Pilgerin' (female pilgrim). If you know the noun, you can easily work out the meaning of the verb.
Ein Pilger ist jemand, der aus religiösen Gründen eine weite Reise zu einem heiligen Ort macht.
A pilgrim is someone who makes a long journey to a holy place for religious reasons.
You can tell whether the religious or the figurative meaning is intended from the destination. Holy places like 'Mekka' (Mecca) point to a pilgrimage. Secular places like 'Stadion' (stadium) or 'Messegelände' (fairgrounds) indicate the figurative meaning.
Viele Muslime pilgern einmal im Leben nach Mekka.
Many Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lives.
The use of 'pilgern' (to flock) for non-religious destinations is figurative. It emphasizes that a large crowd of people is moving slowly and with a shared, almost reverent purpose toward a place.
Zur Eröffnung der neuen Ausstellung pilgerten die Kunstliebhaber ins Museum.
Art lovers flocked to the museum for the opening of the new exhibition.
to rave / swarm
Both words can describe a large crowd of people on their way to a popular place. „Schwärmen“ mainly emphasizes the large, often enthusiastic crowd or its movement in different directions, while „pilgern“ focuses more on the group's shared, purposeful journey. Use „pilgern“ when the destination and the occasion are the main focus.
Am Wochenende pilgern viele Fans zum Konzertgelände, um ihre Lieblingsband zu sehen.
Many fans flock to the concert venue on the weekend to see their favorite band.
Am Wochenende schwärmen viele Fans zum Konzertgelände.
Many fans swarm to the concert venue on the weekend.
