Visiting the local cemeteries we were wondering what the significance was of rocks/stones? We saw many headstones that had one or two or small piles of them. I know the significance of the coins...Military Service related...but the rocks are a new one to me.
There is one large stone on Far Guy's Grandparents headstone.
There has been a solar light cross on Far Guy's parents grave...it stopped working so we took it down and everything looked so bare.
The new solar light is Far Guy's Dads favorite color. It looks not so bare now.
Far Side
Leaving a stone or pebble is a gesture of appreciation for the strong and lasting impression they have made on your life.
I have never seen that practice. Let us know if you find out.
ReplyDeleteWhen we visited my husband's family cemetery in New York, many had stones. One family had hand painted stones by children. I thought it was very sweet, but do not know the meaning.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Perhaps a rock from a favorite place or something? I like the idea of the solar light. I like those in my flower garden.
ReplyDeleteI just learned about the coins. Am extra interested in the rock now.
ReplyDeleteThat solar light is sure pretty. I also wonder about the significance of the stones. I hope somebody finds out and tells us. :-)
ReplyDeleteMany of my Jewish friends leave stones when they visit loved ones. They are showing that they still care and to signify that they were there. Most Jewish cemeteries didn't allow flowers so this was to show the loved one was still thought of and cared about.
ReplyDeleteI like the new solar light.
I've seen rocks and other items (spark plugs, etc.) on headstones, too.
ReplyDeleteI've, also, seen rocks on the headstones and wondered about them. I enjoyed reading what Joan wrote. So now I know. Thank you, Joan.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. I didn't even know about the coins. Solar lights....how awesome but it might scare some people when they look in the cemetery and see glowing lights at night! LOL! It might prevent vandalism.
ReplyDeleteJust found this site with a good explanation http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/2012/04/leaving-stones-on-graves.html Just copy and paste into your search
ReplyDeleteLeaving a stone or pebble is a gesture of appreciation for the strong and lasting impression they have made on your life.
DeleteI had always heard that the stone on the headstone was in remembrance...either way, I like the idea of it.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing that at the end of Shindler's List and it made me cry. Seemed like a respectful remembrance.
ReplyDeleteRead the link from Sam I Am. Makes sense. :)
(Could end up being the bane of the person who mows the lawn, though, if they get knocked around.)
I had never know the meaning of a stone before either and I thank you for enlightening me.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
The "leaving a stone phenomenon" is fairly new to me.... I saw a stone on a grave the last time I took my Auntie out to the cemetery to visit. I came home & looked it up... apparently it's a Jewish custom but it sounds like it has been adapted for all religious affiliations as well as secular individuals. People started leaving painted rocks all over the place, for people to find, quite awhile ago. They'd leave them in odd places like the subway, a public walking path, the doctor's office, etc. and they'd usually have sentiments written on them... "Have faith", "Keep going", You are beautiful", etc. etc. But the plain stone left on top of a grave stone started out as a Jewish custom and spanned out from there. :) Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteLike Rita said, I remember the stones placed on graves at the end of Schindler's List. It seemed a fitting ending for a very sad but important movie. I cried too.
ReplyDeleteI found this: Stones and rocks were used to prevent the deceased from rising up and escaping the body as a spirit, to torment others. It is also a Jewish custom to place a stone or pebble on a headstone to indicate that you have visited the grave and to indicate respect for the deceased.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I've heard of putting stones on a grave. I like the meaning of it.
ReplyDeleteI had heard about the custom of leaving a stone but when I was reading up on it I learned that even touching a headstone is considered disrespectful. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteI've known about the stones for years. We used to do this as teenagers in the 1970s as a sign of respect for our friends' fathers and brothers who had died in in Vietnam war. It was heartrending what our friends went through... this was our message to them. I also saw this done on many headstones at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico a few years back when on a church mission trip; we went to the cemetery back in one of the canyons and the stones were there by folks visiting and paying their respects.
ReplyDeleteJust started reading your blog a few days ago. Found you via another new blog I started reading also, which coincidentally is of someone in my own town! Your blog is in my faves now! Blessings to you!
Lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteI see sometimes when grandchildren leave a small toy car or a tractor at the stone. Sometimes I think people just grab what they can find.
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