HOW TO HALLOWEEN

If you're anything like me, I love to stroll old cemeteries, browsing through the tombstones, tracing their carvings & learning the meanings of each of them. Seems like almost all the ones from the earlier days had some emblem engraved, a poem or scripture, an old photo embedded into the cold stone. I thought I'd take the time to list as many of the engravings as I can & what the loved ones of the deceased were saying with each one. I hope you find it as interesting as I do.

                                     I LOVE this old cemetery tree photo!

Stand out with your Halloween decor this fall with a free and unique idea: gravestone rubbings. Part Goth, part history, rubbing gravestones has become a hobby for many.

In keeping with the spirit of the dead during this season, rubbings of gravestones offer a new alternative to the traditional cardboard RIP’S adorning doorways and walks. They are simple to make, and a trip to a local cemetery can provide an interesting learning experience.

Supplies needed to make a gravestone rubbing are just a few. Bring with you brush to gently clean the stone, masking tape, large white or light colored paper, and dark (black is best) crayons or charcoal with the papers removed. The paper should be thick enough to withstand the rubbing, but not so thick that an impression cannot be made. “Chubby” size crayons work best, as they give you a better grip.

Take a walk through the graveyard and pick out stones of interest to you. You can rub the names, inscriptions, dates and more, but also think about rubbing the beautiful artistic carvings you see. Older stones especially carry old period carvings of trees, nature, saints, angels and more that you can use in your home for decorating, not only for Halloween, but throughout the year when nicely framed and matted.

Hold the paper against the stone and rub from the center of the stone out, using the long side of the crayon, not the pointed tip. Go over the rubbing again, working form the edges in, to darken the impression. Where the words and pictures have been carved from the stone, an impression will be left in white, leaving a background of the color of your writing implement.

When you get your carvings home, trim them however you like. You can cut them with scrap booking scissors or shears, rip gently for an old time torn look, or give them an aged appearance by carefully singeing the edges with a match or lighter (adults only, please & USE CAUTION!). Rubbings can be glued to a backing (like cardboard) for an upright display, mounted or framed for wall display. Dried or pressed flowers beautify & give them an added personal touch! 

Bell - Mourning

Bouquet - Condolences, grief, sorrow

Arrow - Mortality

Bird - Eternal Life, winged soul, spirituality

Book - God's word or one's accomplishment (author)

Broken Ring - Family circle severed

Broken Column - Early death, loss of head of family

Arches - Victory in death or a Heavenly rejoining

Anchor/Ships - Hope/seafaring profession

Buds/Rosebud - Renewal of life, morning of life

Bugles - Ressurrection or the military

Burning Flame - Eternal life

Butterfly - Short life, early death, resurrection

Candle being snuffed - Short lived

Caterpillar - Life, Metamorphosis

Celtic Cross - Faith & eternity

Chain With Three Links - The Holy Trinity

Chereb - Angelic

Coffin, Father Time, Shovel - Mortality

Column - Noble life

Conch Shell - Wisdom, reincarnation

Corn - Ripe old age

Cross - Emblem of faith, resurrection

Crossed Swords - High ranking military person

Crown - Glory of life after death

Crown On Skull - Triumph of death

Cup or Chalice - The sacrament

Cypress - Hope

Dolphin - Resurrection, across water to Heaven

Door - Entrance to Heaven

Dove - Innocence, affection, purity

Drapery - Mourning

Eagle - Courage, faith, military, generosity

Eye - Humility

Female Figure - Sorrow or grief

Finger Pointed Downward - Calling the earth to witness

Finger Pointing Upward - Pathway to Heaven

Fish - Faith, spiritual nourishment

Flag - Military or patriotism

Single Flower - Life's frailty

Flying Birds - Flight of the soul, rebirth

Frog - Worldly pleasures & sin

Fruits - Eternal plenty

Full Blown Rose - Prime of life

Garland - Victory in death

Grim Reaper - Inevitability of death

Gun - Military service

Hair Flowing - Penitence

Hand of God Chopping - Sudden death

Hands Clasped - Hopes of meeting in eternity

Handshakes - Farewell to home

Harp - Praise to the Maker, hope

Heart - Soul in bliss, love of Christ, devotion

Heart Pierced By Sword - Repentance

Heart Flaming - Religious fervor

Helmet - Military

Horns - The resurrection

Horseshoe - Protection against evil

Hourglass - Swiftness of time, temperance

Hourglass With Wings - Short life, time flying

Imps - Mortality

IHS - Christian symbol for "In His service"

Isis - Rebirth, the Virgin Mary

Ivy - Friendship, Immortality

Lamb - Innocence of a child, resurrection

Laurel - Fame, victory, triumph

Lily - Emblem of purity

Lion - Courage, bravery, strength

Lotus - Perfect beauty, spiritual revelation

Menorah - Devine wisdom

Mistletoe - Immortality

Moon - Death, rebirth, sorrow of the crucifixion

Morning glory - Beginnning of life

Mother & Child - Charity, love

Myrtle - Undying love, peace

Naked Figure - Truth, purity, innocence

Oak Leaves & Alcorn - Maturity, ripe old age

Obelisk - Connection between earht & Heaven

Olive Branch - Peace, forgiveness, humanity

Open Book/Bible - Deceased teacher/Minister

Open Gates - Afterlife, soul entering Heaven

Orb - Faith

Owl - Wisdom, solitude, a warning of death

Pansy - Rememberance, meditation

Pick - Death, mortality

Poppy - Eternal sleep

Portals - Pathways to the eternal journey

Pyramid - Enlightenment, resurrection, eternal life

Rainbow - Union, the promise of resurrection

Ripened fruit - Nourishment to the soul

Rod & Staff - Comfort of the Bereaved

Rooster - Vigilance, awakening, courage

Rope Circle - Eternity

Roses - Triumphant love, brevity of earthly existance

Scallop Shell - Baptism, life everlasting, rebirth

Scarab - Resurrection, transcendence

Scepter - Fortitude

Scythe - Death, cutting life short, final harvest

Severed Branch - Mortality

Shamrock - Irish descent, Holy Trinity

Shattered Urn - Old age

Sheaf of Wheat - Ripe for harvest, fruitful life

Shells - Pilgrimage of life

Shepherd's Crook - Charity

Skeleton - Life's brevity, death

Skull & Crossbones - Death, crucifixion

Skull - Transitory nature of earthly life

Smoke - Vanity, futility of seeking earthly glory

Snail - Laziness & sin

Snake, Encirlced - Everlasting life in Heaven

Spade - Death, mortality

Spider Web - Human frailty

Star - Devine guidance

Star of David - Unity, transformation

Sun Rising - Renewal of life

Sun Setting - Death

Sun Shining - Everlasting life

Swallow - Motherhood, spirit of children, consolation

Sword, Broken - Life cut short

Sword, Inverted - Relinquishment of power, victory

Sword, Sheathed - Temperance

Sword - Military

Swords, Crossed - Life lost in battle

Thistles - Scottish descent, earthly sorrow

Tombs - Mortality

Torch Inverted - Life Extinguished

Torch - Purification, truth, wisdom

Tree Stump With Ivy - Head of family

Tree - Knowledge, the fall of man through sin

Tree Sprouting - Life everlasting

Tree Stump - Life Interrupted

Tree Trunk - Brevity of life, number of broken branches can indicate the number of loved ones buried there

Tree Trunk, Leaning - Short interrupted life

Triangle - Holy Trinity

Trumpeters - Announcement of soul entering Heaven

Urn - Death of the body & it's return to dust in the final resting place

Urn With Wreath/Crepe - Mourning

Urn With Blaze - Undying friendship

Violet - Humility

Wheat - Body of Christ

Wheel - Circle of life

Weeping Willow - Emblem of sorrow, mourning

Willows - Earthly sorrow

Winged Effigies - Flight of the soul

Wreath Of Roses - Heavenly joy & bliss

Wreath On Skull - Victory of death over life

Yin Yang Circle - Harmony, balance, birth & death