Symbolism, Gravemarkers and Grave Decorations

Symbolism, Gravemarkers and Grave Decorations. . , Symbolism is very evident in many aspects of 19th century mourning. The carving on most of the older gravestones throughout this 200-year-old graveyard includes typical symbols of death: a drooping rose, weeping willow trees, a shroud-draped obelisk, a tree trunk cut off, urns, open heavenly gates, a hand pointing to heaven, or reaching down from the clouds, and even the form of a bed portraying the notion of finally being "at rest.", This broken wagon wheel, entwined with an ancient rose, was a typical Victorian grave decoration. It symbolizes the progression of life and its full circle being interrupted by death, the missing spokes., Another form of grave marking or decoration involved leaving a child's favorite toy, a doll, tea set, tricycle, or car as recreated here. One third of all burials in this cemetery were children under the age of four., This has always been a public graveyard where citizens could be buried regardless of their ability to pay. Many thousands of graves are not marked in any way except, perhaps, by a humble gravestone, but many are still evident by the contour of the grass.