What is the difference between a gravestone and a headstone?
“Gravestone” is the older word, being used from the late 1300s, and “tombstone” is from the mid-1500s. A headstone, as the word implies, referred to a grave marker placed at the head of a grave. It’s the newest of the three words, arising in 1676, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
How do you read old gravestones?
Mirrors. Occasionally, poor lighting makes headstones difficult to read. In this case, come prepared with a small mirror, such as a compact mirror. Aim the sunlight onto the stone at such an angle that creates shadows of the letters, allowing you to read the stone.
What were gravestones made of in the 1800s?
Gravestone Monuments Over the Years In the late 1700 and early 1800s, monuments were made of sandstone and slate, often carved with a winged death’s head. These engravings represented the fear of death and afterlife. During the Victorian era (1837-1901), there was a change of attitude towards dying.
What can I write on a gravestone?
These are very simple but touching sayings that are ideal for a headstone of any type.
- Treasured by family and friends.
- Here lies a beloved friend.
- Always loved.
- In loving memory of.
- He/she walked in beauty.
- Our lives were better because of her/his presence.
- We will meet again, one day.
- A shining star, forever in our hearts.
Why do gravestones fade?
Headstone paint on an upright memorial is guaranteed for five years, while the paint on a flat, lawn-level headstone is guaranteed for three years. Due to weather and climate changes, rain and snow can sit in the letters over time and erode the paint.
What does a skull with wings on a tombstone mean?
The winged skull most often means a dead person’s journey is not over; after they’ve shed their physical form, they are flying away to another realm.
What does leaving a coin on a grave mean?
A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier’s family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.