Headstone Symbolism

Choosing a Headstone

Deciding on a style of grave maker may be one of the least stressful things you do when making a loved one's final arrangements. Headstones can be upright or flat and come in:

• Marble
• Granite
• Bronze
• Limestone
• Bronze Niche

For the most part, they can be made into any shape you want that is also approved by the cemetery in which the deceased person is buried. Common shapes include:

• Rectangle
• Square
• Heart
• Oval
• Circle
• Open book
• Cross
• Diamond
• Scroll
• Teddy bear
• Baby blocks
• Star of David

They can come with an added vase, plaque, ledge or bench. Whatever you pick for the headstone, its symbolism may be very forthright. For instance, if you are picking a grave marker for a baby, a teddy bear headstone will tell those visiting the cemetery that a child is buried in that plot.

Headstone Symbolism: Images and Inscriptions

The real symbolism in a headstone comes when picking out an image and inscription. With today's technology, just about anything can be inscribed on a grave marker. Everything from the deceased person's picture to images of their favorite hobbies can be found on a headstone. It is important to know the meaning behind the symbol you are choosing. Some of the more common symbols on headstones and their meanings include:

• Angels are agents of God; some point toward Heaven, while flying angels represent rebirth.
• Butterflies represent the soul and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Crosses stand for Christianity. These are usually mounted on three steps on the headstone, with each step symbolizing "faith, hope and charity."
• Dogs mean their owner was worth loving.
• Hearts on a headstone show affection from the living for the dead; two hearts joined together symbolize marriage.
• Roses have a variety of meanings:
  • Rosebuds are used on grave markers for children under 12 years old.
  • Partially bloomed roses are for teenagers.
  • Fully bloomed roses are for those who have died in the prime of their lives (20s or 30s).
  • Broken rosebuds symbolize lives cut short.
• Star of David is used on the grave markers of Jewish persons. It signifies divine protection; the two triangles represent fire and water.
• Bibles are used on the headstones of lay persons or clergy members.
• Lilies are often used on women's graves as they are often associated with the Virgin Mary. It also symbolizes restored innocence of the soul at time of death.

For a deeper look into headstone symbolism, check out Prestige Memorials or Ever Life Memorials

The Meanings Behind the Words

Although many headstone inscriptions are pretty straightforward, sometimes you will come across a few where the message behind words is not as easy to understand. Either the language on it is so archaic, or, on the other hand, so humorous, that you just have to share it with others. Here are some humorous headstone inscriptions whose symbolism is quite obvious:

• From Pete's Tomestone Humor Page:
  • "Here lies Johnny Yeast; pardon me for not rising"
  • "Here lies the body of our Anna, done to death by a banana; it wasn't the fruit that laid her low but the skin of the thing that made her go"
  • "Remember man, as you walk by, as you are now, so once was I; As I am now, so shall you be, remember this and follow me." However, someone wrote on his headstone, "To follow you I'll not consent, until I know which way you went"
• From True Tombstone Epitaphs:
  • "Here lies the body of Margaret Bent; She kicked up her heels and away she went"
  • "Dere Friends I am going where washing ain't done or cooking or sewing; Don't mourn for me now or weep for me never, for I go to do nothing forever and ever!