SYMBOLIC SATURDAY - COFFIN UP THE LAST OF THE SYMBOLS

Here are some more general symbols to be found around the cemetery and what they mean.

Anchors, when they are not denoting a seaman means hope.

Angels – rebirth, resurrection, protection, mercy.

Broken or draped column – Early death or grief.


Female figure – grief, sorrow.


Garland – Victory over death.


Laurel Leaves – Triumph

Lily – purity, chastity

Obelisk – Rebirth – connection of heaven and earth.

Sheaf of Wheat – Old age


Sleeping Cherub – Innocence usually found on a child’s grave.

Three steps – Faith, hope, and love.

Torch – Immortality – (inverted – Life extinguished.)

Wreath – Victory.

For some odd reason the Freemasons have a lot of graveyards hereabout. They are marked by the compass and square joined together representing the interaction between mind and matter. Often the letter G is found at the center. Some say it stands for God, other say geometry. As Catholics cannot be Freemasons, they should also not be buried in such cemetaries.