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Cemetery Symbols: T is for Torch

(photo by Tui Snider)
(photo by Tui Snider)

What Do Upside Down Torches Mean on a Grave?

UPSIDE DOWN TORCH:
If you read my post for J (Jesus in Cowboy Boots!), then you may remember how that particular quirky monument also features upside down torches, and that a few misguided people concluded that this was a reference to either Satanism, atheism, or some negative comment on the man’s life.

Well, I’m here to tell you those ideas are all wrong!

So, what is the significance of upside down torches on a headstone? You know how a candle will go out if you hold it upside down? An inverted torch symbolizes the idea that one’s life is like a flame, and that even when this flame is extinguished by death, one’s soul continues to burn in the afterlife.

How to comment: Please comment about this post on Tui Snider’s Facebook. Leave your link in the comments, and I’ll drop by your blog, too. You can also tweet me at @TuiSnider. (My blog comments are broken, but I’m trying to get that fixed. *sigh*)

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

Each April, people from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then use the blog hop linky to visit as many other bloggers as you can.

Visit other A to Z bloggers:

Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge, and check out the other participants!

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Published inHistoric Cemeteries

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