Comments on: Handshake

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:54:26 +0000

I have been studying grave symbols for our historical society and have run across at least 3 obviously different hand clasp symbols. One with the fingers grasping the other hand as in a handshake which references say may represent a welcome or even a goodbye. Second one hand grasping while the other hand has the fingers extended; the cuffs on the hands are different which represents a married couple. The third has me stumped it is of two hands clasped in a regular handshake but the index fingers on both hands are extended as if pointing. is this from a Secret Society?

By: Frieda Davison

Frieda Davison — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:06:01 +0000

Some contend that the clasped hands indicate the soul of the deceased saying farewell to those on earth. Hands on tombstone do four things: Clasp, Pray, Bless and Point.

By: Linda in Lancaster and lovin' it!

Linda in Lancaster and lovin' it! — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:38:32 +0000

I enjoy reading your blog… and have “tagged” you with the “I Heart Your Blog” award. You can find the details on my blog "Axer to Ziegler"

By: Roy Dixon

Roy Dixon — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:46:36 +0000

When I first started doing monument work, I wondered about this. One hand usually does look masculine and the other feminine, but it always seems to look more like a handshake than 2 people holding hands. The cemetery monuments close to us rarely have this emblem. It must have more than one meaning, since the 2 stones I have seen it on locally were for single graves. Have you anything further on this?

By: Harvey May

Harvey May — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:23:17 +0000

Recently attended a burial service in Alta Vista, Ks, and saw two tombstones with the clasped hands, Our Pastor found your web site, and since I do family research, I’ll be checking your site out frequently.

By: some.kid

some.kid — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:13:16 +0000

since my brother past away in 2007, i have interested in cemetarys and in short, the afterlife. i was wondering where people who didnt belong to a certain faith are buried, if they didnt want to be cremated.

By: adamsemail

adamsemail — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:48:49 +0000

I live near Alexandria Virginia, right outside Washington D.C. There is a cemetery in Alexandria called “Alexandria National Cemetery.” It was the percurser to “Arlington National Cemetary” and was used to bury Revolutionary War Troops until it ran out of room and Arlington National was created. There is even a seperate section for “colored peoples.”
The cemetery has been neglected and forgotten. Homeless people sleep amongst the fallen tomstones and rotting crypts. Beer bottle glass litters the grounds. The tombstones that are legible are incredible.
My wife and I, every year, spend a day cleaning up trash and manage to fill at least 5 black trash bags of garbage.
Deffinately worth some research on your part. I would be happy to take some digi pics and E-mail them to you the next time we are there.

By: progledaj1

progledaj1 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:41:39 +0000

it is very good bullet for marriage.

By: Sheihan

Sheihan — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:39:17 +0000

This is a great website. You should take a look at the cemeteries in Southeastern, PA…especially in Ephrata+. Also of interest are those in the Northeastern Rustbelt…especially in Trinity Church’s graveyard in Manhattan and St Paul’s in New Brunswick, NJ.