Jesus in Cowboy Boots? I had such a hard time coming up with a good cemetery symbol for the letter J that I decided to re-post my entry for the 2013 A to Z blog challenge, in which my theme was Quirky Texas. That was my first year, and I didn’t yet realize that A to Z posts are meant to be short and sweet. This is a fun one, though. Enjoy! How to leave a comment on this post Please comment about this post on Tui Snider’s Facebook. Leave your link in the comments, and I’ll drop by your…
Category: Historic Cemeteries
What does ivy symbolize in a graveyard?
What does a handshake mean on a headstone? HANDSHAKE: When my field guide to graveyards is complete, it will certainly include an entire chapter on the meaning of hands in cemetery iconography. Hands appear frequently and are used to indicate many different things. For the purposes of this A to Z post, I have chosen the type of handshake that indicates a married couple. Without seeing the names, you can tell the wife is on the left and the man is on the right due to the jewelry and style of clothing on each. The woman’s hand often appears more…
Why is there a G in the Masonic symbol? THE MASONIC G: It seems like a simple question, “What does ‘G’ in the middle of the Masonic emblem mean?” Finding a simple answer, however, is not so easy. As a teen I joined the Rainbow Girls, which is the youth group associated with the Masonic Temple. They must have thought I had bladder problems, because I constantly excused myself during class. Instead of using the bathroom, I’d poke all over the labyryhthine halls, hoping to discover something mysterious or strange. I never did. Our Rainbow Girl rituals, on the other…
What exactly is an epitaph? EPITAPHS: Words of remembrance inscribed on a headstone are called an epitaph. Epitaphs run the gamut from brief phrases, poems, song lyrics and scriptures, to a lengthy list of of the deceased’s attributes. (I recently came across one that read more like a Linked In profile than an epitaph!) What I enjoy about epitaphs is how much personality, and even humor, they add to a cemetery visit. One of my favorite epitaphs can be found in Key West, Florida on the grave of a person who caught flack for being a hypochodriac. A lifetime of…
What does a dove signify on a headstone? DOVE: In general, doves represent innocence, peace, and/or the Holy Spirit. The meaning of a particular dove depends on what it is doing. A dove that appears to be swooping down from above symbolizes a loved one taking the deceased up to heaven. If the dove itself appears dead, as in the photo above, it stands for someone who died young. The tiny tree stump here is another reference to a life cut short. So sad! (How to comment: Please comment about this post on Tui Snider’s Facebook. Leave your link in…