If you spend time in any cemetery, you'll notice a wide variety of symbols adorning the headstones and grave markers. Winged skulls, clasped hands, inverted torches, and other icons may seem mysterious to modern visitors, but they often hold special meaning for the deceased and their loved ones.

Quincy Memorials, the leading monument maker and cemetery engraving service in Norfolk County, MA, reveals the meanings behind several common headstone symbols: 

• Inverted Torch: An upside-down torch or a pair of crossed torches with their flames on the bottom symbolizes eternal life. Typically, holding a torch in this manner would cause the flames to sputter out. However, when it is depicted as having remained ignited when it should have gone out, it indicates the belief that the soul of the deceased lives on in heaven.
• Clasped Hands: An image of two hands holding on to each other represents eternal unity. It typically appears on the graves of loving couples or families and suggests a belief that the departed individuals will reunite eternally in heaven.
• Winged Hourglass: The winged hourglass means, "Time flies," and is an admonition not to waste your life on inconsequential pursuits. This symbol is often accompanied by a scythe, which illustrates the severing of the bonds of life.
• Flying Death's Head: A winged skull or flying death's head means that, although the deceased is no longer among the living, their journey is not yet complete. In colonial times, the death's head was commonly used instead of religious symbols, which the Puritans reserved for worship services.

Quincy Memorials, the most trusted and experienced monument maker in Boston, MA, can help you understand the unique symbolism of many headstone and grave marker icons. They'll help you choose the precise imagery for the message you want to convey. Visit their website for contact details or call (617) 471-0250 to discuss your options with a friendly, helpful engraving specialist.