Culpepper & Co in West Palm Beach, Florida People often ask how I find so many quirky, offbeat, and overlooked places to explore on road trips. The answer is pretty simple: I do a lot of research in advance, but I also keep my eyes open. Planned Spontaneity I call it “planned spontaneity.” And yes, that sounds like an oxymoron. But all it really means is that even though I spend hours researching and planning road trips, I’m not rigid about it. Fun Nautical Themed Shop At home I’m “Planny Plannerton,” but once I’m out the door, all bets are…
Tag: photo essay
Who is the Virgin of Guadalupe? Since the Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico, depictions of her are common in areas with a large Hispanic population. The squiggly lines that surround her body represent rays of sunlight. I’m not Hispanic, but the Virgen of Guadalupe made a big impression on me as a little girl when my family visited Mexico City. You might even say that I’ve been a fan of her ever since! To learn more about her, check out this excellent post: Everything You Needed to Know about the Virgen de Guadalupe. Field Guide to…
What does a rosebud signify on a headstone? ROSE: Not only do roses represent earthly passion (just think how many are given at Valentine’s Day) but they also stand for heavenly perfection. When carved on a headstone, roses nearly always have 3 leaves. A quick look at my backyard rose bush confirmed that this is not botanically accurate! Symbolically, however, this trio of leaves represents the holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rosebuds most often appear on the graves of children and teens as a way of expressing that they were not able to achieve their full potential. A…
What Do Upside Down Torches Mean on a Grave? UPSIDE DOWN TORCH: If you read my post for J (
What does a pitcher signify on a headstone? PITCHER: Pitchers mean different things depending on where you are. If you are visiting a Jewish cemetery, then a pitcher at a grave site implies that the person descended from the tribe of Levi. (Levites washed the hands of their priests with water.) If you are in the Christian section of a historic graveyard (as I was when I took the photo you see above), pitchers most often represent a woman of strong moral character, someone who was exceedingly generous, self-sacrificing, and charitable. It can also mean she was a prohibitionist,…
What do obelisks represent? OBELISKS:Despite its origins in worshiping the sun god, Ra, obelisks are a common sight in historic cemeteries. So how did this ancient Egyptian form work its way into Christian symbology? Although they’ve existed for thousands of years, obelisks gained popularity after Napoleon invaded Egypt in the late 1700’s. As the form began to appear in Neoclassical architecture, it made its way into graveyards, where it represents a connection between heaven and earth, as well as power, strength, and fatherhood. In historic cemeteries, an obelisk is often at the center of a family plot, where it represents…