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When choosing headstones or grave markers, we often pick design elements with little knowledge about the symbolism behind it. This glossary of cemetery symbolism will help you to understand the meaning of the many design elements.
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- Cremation
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- Beehive – Bees can represent Christianity and faith, and a beehive can be a symbol of people working for the Church.
- Dog – Dogs signify loyalty and vigilance. On modern gravestones, a dog may be an homage to a pet.
- Lamb – A lamb stands for gentleness and innocence. This motif is very common on children’s graves.
- Phoenix – A phoenix symbolizes resurrection and transformation. The phoenix has been used in Christian cemetery art as early as the first century A.D.
- Changing Meanings
- Headstone Materials
- A Note on Grave Epitaphs
- Free Tombstone Iconography Download
If you have pictures of tombstones from different parts of the country, you’ll notice regional symbols that evolved as attitudes toward death changed. For instance, the winged death head (a skull with wings), most commonly seen on the graves of New England colonists, is one of the earliest cemetery art forms in America. The Puritans viewed death in...
By determining the headstone’s composition, you can tell if the marker at your ancestor’s grave is the original or a replacement. Before the 1650s, people used mostly fieldstones or rough-cut rocks to mark graves. A stone from this time might have the deceased’s initials and death year carved on it. From about the 1660s to 1850s, headstones consist...
Epitaphs are short verses or poems written to honor a deceased person, and they are frequently seen on gravestones. Epitaphs typically reflect living relatives’ feelings toward the deceased, as survivors would select verses from monument makers’ and funeral directors’ catalogs. Occasionally, people would specify what they wanted on their tombstones...
Now that you’re up to speed on common gravestone symbols, it’s time to do some exploring! Grab your free download to the most common iconography for easy reference. Happy searching!
Sep 18, 2022 · While also decorative, there are also deeper hidden meanings to these cemetery symbols that point to the person’s life, passions, and impact on those left behind. Keep reading for a history of headstones, the most common gravestone symbols, and what they could mean.
Sep 12, 2024 · 90 Common Headstone Symbols & What They Mean. Learn how to decode common (and uncommon) headstone symbols just in time for spooky season.
Our guide to cemetery symbolism explains the meaning and significance of the most common old and new gravestone symbols that you will find across cemeteries throughout the UK.
Mar 29, 2024 · The world of headstone symbols and meanings unveils deep sentiments and a rich tapestry of personal narratives. Far beyond mere adornments, these symbols carve a lasting legacy, each stroke conveying the essence of strength, love, and enduring hope.
