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 Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:46 pm
Ever take a walk through a cemetery and notice the different symbols on the grave stones and monuments? Well, today I walked through one as part of a guided tour, and we were given sheets of paper that explained the meanings behind the symbols on some of these graves.
Anchor - Hope, Someone who was at sea, in the Navy, Fisherman, etc.
Book - the Divine Word (from the Bible), or one's accomplishments
Broken or Draped Column - Early Death, Grief
Celtic Cross - Mainly for Irish people, Faith or Eternity
Chain with Three Links - Faith, Hope, and Charity, or a symbol for a group called the Oddfellows (need to look up more info on them)
Column - A noble life
Dove - Love, Purity, Resurrection, the Holy Spirit
Drapery or Pal - Mourning, Mortality
Female Figure - Grief
Finger Pointing Upward - Pathway to Heaven
Garland - Victory over death
Hands Clasped - Farewell, Hope of meeting in the future
Ivy - Fidelity, Attachment, Undying affection
Lamb - Innocence, Resurrection (mostly put on the stones of children)
Laurel Leaves - Triumph
Lily - Purity
Lily of the Valley - Rebirth, Virgin Mary
Masonic Compass and Set Square - Freemasons, Uprightness, Judgment.
Oak - Strength of faith and virtue, Endurance
Open Gates - Afterlife, The Soul Entering Heaven
Rope Circle - Eternity
Rose - Victory, Pride, Triumphant Love
Shamrock - Irish Descent, Holy Trinity
Sheaf of Wheat - Old Age, Fruitful Life
Star - Divine Guidance
Star of David - Unity, Transformation
Steps (3 leading up to family plots) - Faith, Hope, and Charity
Thistle - Scottish descent, Earthly Sorrow, Defiance
Torch - Truth, Immortality, Wisdom, Purification
Inverted Torch - Life extinguished too soon
Tree Stump - Life interrupted
Tree Trunk - Brevity of life - the number of broken branches can indicate the number of family members buried on the site
Triangle - Holy Trinity
Triquetra - Celtic: Symbolizing Maiden, Mother, and Crone aspects of Goddess. Christian: Symbolizing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Violet - Humility
Wheat - Body of Christ
Wreath - Victory
Wreath of Roses -- Heavenly Joy and Bliss
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:49 pm
Have any of you seen these symbols on graves? Any other symbols and meanings on graves you want to share?
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:51 am
My Great Aunt and Uncles shared grave has a triquetra on one side an a four leafed clover on the other. It was designed by their sons, and is really pretty, though I think it only goes as far as signifying that they were Irish. Lol, in fact any little blurb about certain symbols having both Pagan and Christian meanings is almost totally unheard of. They'll laugh and deny it, possibly take a swig of whiskey. Its all rather funny to watch. The symbols really caught my attention at the "re-funeral" however, and made the whole ordeal a bit easier to swallow...
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