#atozchallenge

April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I hope you enjoy it! Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

A Common Cemetery Name

Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

Here’s a quick video from my most recent trip to my Oakwood Cemetery. Want to join me? Along the way, we’ll drop by the grave of a famous lawman (Longhair Jim Courtwright) who lost his life in a Wild West gun battle: click here to see the video.

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & YouTube Channel:

Do you have questions about headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours! You can also tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE copy of my book:

Sign up below for your FREE book:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I hope you enjoy it! Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

Cemetery Symbols for the Four Evangelists

Angel, Lion, Ox, and Eagle

But did you know there are specific symbols linked with each of the four evangelists? An angel stands for Matthew, a winged lion means Mark, an ox stands for Luke, and an eagle stands for John.

This is why the city of Venice is full of winged lion imagery. Their patron saint is Saint Mark. Keep an eye out for these symbols the next time you visit a church.

Symbolic Headstone Features the Evangelists

As you can see, I found symbolic references to the four evangelists at this unique family headstone in Fort Worth’s historic Oakwood Cemetery.

Zodiac Signs for the Four Evangelists, too?

The four evangelists are also associated with the zodiac! This may seem strange to us now, but in the early days of Christianity, there was no distinction between astrology and astronomy . (Watch my video to learn more about this.)

Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

I recently visited the unique headstone featured in this post over in Fort Worth’s historic Oakwood Cemetery. Would you like to come along? If so, click here to see the video.

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & YouTube Channel:

Do you have questions about headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours! You can also tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE copy of my book:

Sign up below for your FREE book:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I hope you enjoy it! Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

So many fraternal organizations!

Bricklayers Row

In Fort Worth, for instance, members fo the Bricklayers International League of America were entitled to a burial plot and headstone in the prestigious Oakwood Cemetery. I was so puzzled the first time I saw their emblem. It was a new one to me!

Bartenders Row

As you can see, one year the local historic group (NFWHS) included Bartenders Row in their annual Saints and Sinners Tour. It was fascinating to hear him tell us what life was like serving up drinks down in the rowdy Hell’s Half Acre section of Fort Worth.

Does your cemetery feature any professions?

Even so, bartending was considered a respectable profession in those days. Oakwood Cemetery also has a section known as Bricklayers Row. As you can see from the photo, this area features some fancy brickwork.

Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

I recently paid a visit to Euday Bowman’s mausoleum, Bricklayers Row, and Bartenders Row in Fort Worth’s historic Oakwood Cemetery. Would you like to come along? If so, click here to see the video.

Does your local cemetery include any areas dedicated to specific professions?

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & YouTube Channel:

Do you have questions about headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours! You can also tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE copy of my book:

Sign up below for your FREE book:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I hope you enjoy it! Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

First Black Millionaire in Texas

Opulent Obelisk in Trinity Cemetery

Gooseneck McDonald is buried in Trinity Cemetery, which is the black section of Fort Worth’s Oakwood Cemetery. As you can see, his 38-foot-tall obelisk towers over the other monuments in the burial ground.

Full View of the Local KKK Building

This pricey monument was placed in a very particular spot, however. McDonald made sure that his monument stood in full view of the building where the local faction of the KKK met!

Learn More & Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

I recently paid a visit to Gooseneck McDonald’s magnificent monument and shared a video to YouTube. Come along with me to learn:

• What do obelisks symbolize?
• How did William Gooseneck McDonald use his grave to taunt the KKK in Fort Worth, Texas?
• What does it mean when Christians use ancient Egyptian symbols in graveyards?
• And more!

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & YouTube Channel:

Do you have questions about headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours! You can also tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE copy of my book:

Sign up below for your FREE book:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

April A to Z Challenge 2020:

Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to find new blogs to read.

Historic Cemetery Theme

Most bloggers choose a theme for their A to Z posts, and I’m no exception. I chose “historic cemeteries” as my theme, and most of my posts are adapted excerpts from my book Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I added a LOT more photos, though!  [ Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

My Master List of Cemeteries from A to Z:

Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the ones you want to read, though. So here’s a Master List with all my A to Z   :

A- What do Anchors Symbolize? (It’s probably NOT what you think!)
B- Why are Benches so Common in Historic Cemeteries?
C- So Many Different Types of Crosses! 
D- Double-Headed Eagles
E- Let’s Talk about Epitaphs
F- Why Do Saints & Angels Go Bare Foot? 
G- What do Grottos Symbolize?
H- Grave Houses, Shelters,  & Other Covers
I- What does IHS actually stand for?
J- Jewish Acronym for “here lies”
K- His Grave Taunts the KKK! (Also: What do Obelisks Mean?)
L- Lost Cemetery of Infants (A Surprisingly Cheery Tale!)
M- Musicmakers, Bartenders & Bricklayers from Hell’s Half Acre
N- New Testament Symbols, Christianity & the Zodiac
O- Oakwood is the John Smith of Cemetery names
P- Paranormal Texas: The Tragic Tale of Sally Bowman
Q-
R- Roswell of Texas: Space Alien Grave
S- Serial Killer Grave
T- What’s a Tumulus?
U- Urban Legends in Historic Cemeteries
V- Virtual Cemetery Tour: Mounded Seashell Graves
…and more on the way!
W- What are Grave Goods?
X- X Marks the Spot!
Y-
Z- Zinc Monuments a.k.a. “White Bronze”

Tombstone Tuesday = a monthly cemetery podcast

Since you’re here, I’d like to invite you to tune into my podcast. On the first Tuesday of the month, I host Tombstone Tuesday, a 30-minute podcast about exploring historic cemeteries. To listen live or catch the replay: Click here

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & Facebook Page:

Do you have questions about symbols you’ve seen on headstones? Drop by Exploring Historic Cemeteries on Facebook and let me know! And tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE copy of my book:

Sign up below for your FREE book:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I hope you enjoy it! Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

Jewish headstones are often engraved in Hebrew

A Hebrew Acronym

I am not Jewish, but I have come to recognize the Hebrew letters “pey” and “nun.” As a tombstone acronym, these letters are an abbreviation for po nikbar, meaning “here lies.” You can see a close up example of this in the photo above.

Po Nikbar often appears at the top of Jewish headstones

Here’s another example of the Hebrew acronym for “here lies.” And if you’re wondering what those hands engraved at the top of the headstone mean and what connection they have to Spock, grab my free book and find out!

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & YouTube Channel:

Do you have questions about headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours! You can also tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE copy of my book:

Sign up below for your FREE book:

Email:

We respect your email privacy