| | Exploring the meaning of cemetery symbols and other graveyard mysteries. For genealogy sleuths, taphophiles and goth kids. |
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| | Tue, 06 May 2008 18:58:48 +0000 | | |
A handshake symbol on a tombstone usually signifies a welcome into the heavenly world. Sometimes you may see this as a symbol of matrimony on the grave marker of a married couple. If it’s a marriage symbol you may notice that one cuff will look masculine and the other, feminine.
Photograph: from the tombstone of Hugh [...] | |
| | Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:22:03 +0000 | | |
Old West outlaw William Bonney, aka “Billy the Kid,” was famously shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico on July 14, 1881. He was buried in the Old Fort Sumner Cemetery alongside Tom O’Folliard and Charlie Bowdre, two members of the Kid’s gang, who had both been killed by Garrett’s [...] | |
| | Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:06:31 +0000 | | |
I sometimes see angel statues in cemeteries, where the angel is holding flowers in one hand, while the other hand seems to be dropping the flowers over the graves. I’m not sure of the exact significance of this, but the angels appear to be spreading blessings. Perhaps this tradition is related to flower girls at [...] | |
| | Wed, 23 May 2007 18:44:35 +0000 | | |
Treestones are basically grave markers in the shape of a tree. Often they will look like tree stumps or logs. Some will have branches. They are usually associated with the Woodmen of the World, and their various associated groups, although using tree-shaped grave markers pre-dates the organization. The treestones of Woodmen will usually include their [...] | |
| | Fri, 16 Mar 2007 21:13:53 +0000 | | | Colorado’s Mount Lindo Cemetery and Mausoleum rests on top of a mountain that overlooks Highway 285 and Denver. On the East side of the mountain is the largest lighted cross in the United States. The history of the lighted cross goes back to the Olinger family, who founded the Olinger mortuary company in Denver in [...] | |
| | Fri, 16 Feb 2007 05:21:03 +0000 | | | The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was founded in 1890. Today this lineage organization and genealogical society has about 168,000 members. Any woman 18 or older, who can prove a lineal bloodline descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. The DAR promotes patriotism, preservation of American history, and education.
A [...] | |
| | Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:17:48 +0000 | | | Camp Fire Girls began in 1910 as a youth development organization for girls. Today the organization has both boys and girls and is called Camp Fire USA. Boys were first included in 1975.
The Camp Fire greeting “Wo-He-Lo” comes from the first two letters of the words, work, health and love.
Photo: from the grave marker of [...] | |
| | Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:21:21 +0000 | | |
Flowers are among the most commonly used symbols in cemeteries. I’ve included pictures of two of the most popular cemetery flowers, the lily and the rose. Liies symbolize innocence and purity. Roses are often associated with romance, passion and beauty. You will find numerous examples of flowers on grave markers, some merely decorative, others used [...] | |
| | Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:27:34 +0000 | | | On Jewish tombstones you will sometimes see a symbol showing two hands arranged for the Priestly Blessing like the example here. This is a symbol of the Kohen or Cohen (Hebrew for priest). The plural form is Kohanim or Cohanim. Kohanim are assumed to be direct male descendants of Aaron, who was the first Kohen [...] | |
| | Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:19:57 +0000 | | | The Improved Order of Red Men is a fraternal organization that traces its origins to pre-Revolutionary War patriotic societies like the Sons of Liberty, who were responsible for the Boston Tea Party. The name was changed to the Society of Red Men after the War of 1812, and to the Improved Order of Red Men [...] | |
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