Understanding Hand Symbols on Gravestones

Have you ever wandered a cemetery and noticed that some of the gravestones feature carvings of hands? Some have multiple hands that are clasping each other, while others have a single hand with a pointing finger (not that finger.) What do they mean? As it turns out, there are multiple meanings behind these symbols.

Multiple Hands

Clasped hands, like a handshake as seen above or even two hands holding each other often symbolize eternal love, like that between spouses or significant others. They can also mean friendship or even a handshake to say “goodbye” to life on earth.

A Single, Pointing Hand

While the most common of these symbols is a hand with a single finger pointing upwards, towards heaven, you might see the finger pointing downwards as well. An upward finger can mean that the deceased went to heaven or is confirming the fact that there’s life after death.

A finger pointing downwards typically means that the deceased died very suddenly or is reminding you of the fragility of life and the mortality that we all face.

Other Types of Hands

On top of clasped hands and hands with pointing fingers, you might see other symbols, like a single hand. This is usually seen as the hand of God, noting the religious devotion of the deceased. It could also be a priestly blessing, especially if you see two hands not touching each other.