Suns, Sunflowers, Stars or Flowers---You Be the Judge

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

This week, we'll look at the symbol of the sun, used mostly in the late18th and early 19th centuries.  The examples I have were found mostly in Pennsylvania German or Mennonite or Moravian graveyards.  The sun can represent Christ the "son" himself, or his birth and/or resurrection.  It can represent even the death and hope for resurrection of the deceased.  Some of the examples below are beautifully carved, while others are more primitive.  And some could easily be stars or flowers, specifically sunflowers.  A sunflower to Christians represents devotion to Christ, as it turns its face to follow the sun ("son") as it crosses the sky every day.

You'll have to decide for yourself what some of these symbols represent, as the carver can no longer be queried.  Enjoy.

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

East Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Forks Cemetery, Stockertown, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

 Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Sellersville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

Plainfield Cemetery, Plainfield Township, PA

Plainfield Cemetery, Plainfield Township, PA

Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Valley, PA

Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Valley, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

Scotch Irish Presbyterian Burial Grounds, Martins Creek, PA

St. Peter's Tohickon UCC Cemetery, Keelersville, PA

St. Peter's Tohickon UCC Cemetery, Keelersville, PA

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Ridge Valley, PA

St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Hilltown, PA

Trinity UCC Cemetery, Boonsboro, MD

Trinity UCC Cemetery, Stone Church, PA

Trinity UCC Cemetery, Stone Church, PA

Trumbauersville UCC Cemetery, Trumbauersville, PA

Trumbauersville UCC Cemetery, Trumbauersville, PA

Trumbauersville UCC Cemetery, Trumbauersville, PA

Trumbauersville UCC Cemetery, Trumbauersville, PA

Trumbauersville UCC Cemetery, Trumbauersville, PA

Trumbauersville UCC Cemetery, Trumbauersville, PA

West Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, PA

West Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, PA

West Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, PA

St. Paul's Lutheran Blue Church Cemetery, Coopersburg, PA

St. Paul's Lutheran Blue Church Cemetery, Coopersburg, PA

New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Leithsville, PA

St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Macungie, PA

St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Macungie, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Indian Creek Christ Reformed Cemetery, Indian Valley, PA

Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Sellersville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

Plainfield Cemetery, Plainfield Township, PA

Richlandtown Cemetery, Richlandtown, PA

Salford Mennonite Cemetery, Harleysville, PA

Salford Mennonite Cemetery, Harleysville, PA

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Ridge Valley, PA

   

West Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, PA

 

Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island, NY