What is tenebrae meaning?

Tenebrae is a Latin word that translates to "darkness" or "shadows". It is often used in Christian liturgical contexts to refer to a Holy Week service of darkness that is observed on the evening of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or Holy Saturday. During the Tenebrae service, a series of candles are extinguished one by one, gradually darkening the church or worship space and symbolizing the increasing darkness that surrounded Jesus leading up to his death on the cross. The service usually includes readings from the Old and New Testaments, psalms, and hymns.