Genealogy may very well be the only hobby that causes a person to want to hang around in graveyards and cemeteries. Many genealogists use the gravestones of their ancestors to confirm important information such as birth dates, death dates, and connection to other ancestors. Sometimes, you can learn more about the people you descended from, simply because you understand the symbolic meanings of the images that appear on their gravestone. You might find images of animals, birds, and insects on a gravestone. Each one has it’s own meaning. An ant symbolizes “Christian industry”. Maybe this is because ants are busy … Continue reading →

Genealogists who have started visiting graveyards in order to continue their research have likely seen some strange things. While most gravestones contain the name, date of birth, and date of death of the deceased, not all gravestones stop there. There may be poetic inscriptions, or a portrait of the person. Many gravestones also have images carved into them, or depicted on them. It’s not too hard to guess that an angel symbolizes rebirth, or a connection between God and man. Everyone knows that skulls or skeletons symbolize death. But, what about the images that are plants, flowers, and foods? It … Continue reading →