Reading Tombstones

One of my favorite things to do is to walk through the local cemetaries.  Some may say it's morbid or creepy, but it's actually a very peaceful, quiet place.  Nobody bothers you and it's really a great place to take pictures.

I came across an article today depicting what certain images represent when placed on Tombstones.  Now I'm sure many people didn't have this information in the past, or maybe they did and it's been lost along the way.

It's something to think about though.

Butterflies: The three stages of the butterfly's life- caterpillar, cocoon, and butterfly---represent life, death, and rebirth.

Daisies:  Innocence.  Daisies are frequently found on childrens graves.

Sheaf of wheat:  A long and productive life.  Frequently found on the graves of people who lived past the age of 70.

A woman holding a lamp, candle, or cross:  Faith

To hands clasping each other:  A married couple.  Look closely at the hands and you will notice one is masculine and one feminine.

Pine cones: Immortality

Acorns: Prosperity

Chrysanthemums: Longevity, immortality.

A crane standing on one leg:  Vigilance; these birds are often found perched atop mausoleums and other monuments.  Legend has it the birds sleep standing on one leg while holding a small stone in the claw of the other leg.  If they sleep too deeply, they will drop the stone onto the other leg, which wakes them up.

An angel, a lion, an ox, and an eagle: The authors of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in that order.

I really enjoyed learning the symbolism behind these commonly found images.  I will pay closer attention the next time I take a walk.