What Headstones Say

4 min read

Deviation Actions

deadspirit6's avatar
By
Published:
936 Views
In the mid-19th century, Americans held a very romanticized and sentimental view of
death. At this time, religious symbols such as doves, hands and roses started to appear
on headstones. These symbols reflected a kinder and gentler view of death.
Here is a sample of those religious symbols and what each means.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:tombstone: An angel means guardian or protection. For those who believe life is an
endless cycle, an angel will protect them. Angels vary in posture and expressions.
Some are ready to take flight, others are posed as if grieving and some are smiling.
Angels come from the Greek word "Angelos", which means messenger.

:tombstone: Butterflies represent the three stages of life- Life, Death and Resurrection

:tombstone: The dove is a symbol of purity and peace. It became a powerful representation of the Holy Ghost.

:tombstone: The cross is associated with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

:tombstone: The most important Christian crown is Christ's crown of thorns. The crown symbolizes sovereignty of the Lord. When the Madonna is depicted with the crown, it means she is the queen of heaven.

:tombstone: Like angels, the symbol of the hand appears in a variety of postures. Two hands shaking means welcome to the next life. Also, if each hand clearly represents that of a woman and a man, this represents matrimony. A hand pointing up suggests pointing to heaven. This is interpreted as the soul having risen to the heavens. A hand reaching down suggests the hand of God emerging from the clouds and inviting you to heaven.

:tombstone: The human heart is symbol for love, courage, a broken heart of joy. A flaming heart symbolizes religious fervor. A heart wrapped in thorns refers to the promise made at the  hour of one's death. And two hearts means matrimonial love.

:tombstone: Lambs are about innocence. They are placed on markers when a child has died.

:tombstone: Lamps are a symbol of wisdom and piety. In life or death, the symbol of a lamp suggests a light to find one's way through darkness into a better world. An oil lamp with a flame symbolizes an eternal flame.

:tombstone: Torch- The symbol of a burning fire or flame means life eternal. An upside down torch means the flame is extinguished, meaning death.

:tombstone: Flowers are symbols or remembrance. They remind people of beauty and brevity of life.
Individual flowers can have different meanings. A lily symbolizes majestic beauty and marriage. The red rose became a symbol of martyrdom while the white rose symbolized purity. A rose is a reminder of paradise because of its fragrance, longetivity and beauty. It also is a symbol of purity.

:tombstone: Ferns symbolize humility, frankness and sincerity. They are said to be found deep in forests, but only by those who have honestly searched.

:tombstone: A wreath, often thought of as Christmas symbol, can mean honor or the circle of life. A tree or palm frond represents triumph over death. The Romans used fronds as a symbol of victory.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2010. www.cnn.com "What headstones say about the living" May 31st, 2010.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2010 - 2024 deadspirit6
Comments7
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
nitchwarmer's avatar
Mine is going to be a pork chop. and It stands for we no what killer this smart ass it was a life of
living to hard to fast. :D