Monthly Archives: April 2018

Praying Hands

Posted on April 25, 2018 by gravelyspeaking

Praying hands, which can be found as incised carvings on gravestones or as statues that form a centerpiece in gardens within cemeteries, are a symbol of pious devotion.  Praying hands also symbolize the hope for an eternal life.

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The Virgin of Guadalupe

Posted on April 21, 2018 by gravelyspeaking

An image that one is likely to come across in cemeteries where there are high populations of Mexican immigrants is the Virgin of Guadalupe, also referred to as Mother of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The Virgin of Guadalupe … Continue reading →

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Odd Fellows Symbolism

Posted on April 16, 2018 by gravelyspeaking

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal organization that formed in England in the 1700s as a service organization. The American association was founded in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819. According to the I.O.O.F. Website, “Thomas Wildey … Continue reading →

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Figli d’Italia

Posted on April 12, 2018 by gravelyspeaking

In the last decade of the 19th Century, tens of thousands came to the United States in the largest wave of immigrants to the U.S.  Previous immigrants had come from mostly Northern European countries, such as, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, … Continue reading →

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The Sands of Time

Posted on April 7, 2018 by gravelyspeaking

The soap opera, Days of Our Lives, has as their catchphrase, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” The meaning of that catchphrase is clear–life passes by very quickly.  Life measured by the grains of sand … Continue reading →

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