A cemetery is a peaceful, organized place of rest for departed family members and friends. The cemetery is also a valuable source of genealogical evidence.
A graveyard can give hints about people’s lives, their beliefs, social status, and cultural background. A keen eye and careful observation can yield surprising results.
Symbolism
Cemetery symbols often have sentimental, religious, ethnic and cultural associations that are important to those left behind. From knots to crescents, pentagrams to angels, symbols on tombstones can elicit feelings in visitors and tell a lot about the deceased.
Several of the symbols that can be found on gravestones have lengthy histories. These are typically religious symbols that have long been associated with a particular faith.
For example, a rose is commonly a symbol of love and beauty. It can also symbolize the life of a woman and how she died.
Other symbols can be symbolic of a person’s profession, military service or church membership. These can be found on gravestones, or at the entrance to a cemetery.
Hands are another common gravestone symbol, whether they’re hands on a statuary figure or simply holding a handshake. They can indicate a final farewell, an eternal bond or even God reaching out to the deceased.
Monuments
Monuments are a key feature of many cemeteries. They help keep people informed about their family history and provide a place for them to mourn.
There are also several different symbols that can be found on gravestones. These can have many different meanings depending on the culture in which they are found.
One symbol that is often seen in older cemeteries is the lion. This is a strong symbol that signifies courage and eternal guarding.
Another common symbol is the rose. It can be used to symbolize a flower or it can represent the completion of an earthly life.
The hand is also a commonly found symbol in tombstones. In many Native American cultures, it represents a healer. It can also be a sign of love and compassion. The hand also represents protection and power. It is a symbol that has been around for thousands of years.
Maintenance
A cemetery needs to be maintained to a high standard. This includes removing debris, dirt and foreign objects that may be deemed hazardous or impacting on the natural environment.
Maintaining a cemetery is a complicated task and can be difficult to manage. Traditionally, the maintenance of cemeteries has been the responsibility of the family who owns the plot or grave.
However, this has become increasingly difficult due to the increase in the costs of labour and automation. This is exacerbated by the fact that many older cemeteries were designed and built at a time when labour costs were relatively low.
Security
Cemeteries are places where people of all faiths and backgrounds can respectfully and quietly honor their loved ones. But they are also a place of security, where fences, gates, and guards protect the burial grounds and grave sites from harm.
Cemetery workers operate year-round in all weather conditions. Their job duties involve excavation, equipment moving and setup, landscaping, chemical management and other responsibilities that could result in death or serious injury.
As a result, they are required to follow safety standards and use good work practices in order to avoid accidents that could cause injuries or fatalities. For example, they are expected to always stay on marked paths and follow warnings when working near a grave. They should also be aware that the ground can be dangerous due to constant digging, trapped air and moisture. This can cause the site to collapse or the headstones to fall. Therefore, they should be supervised at all times when working in or around the cemetery.