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Glossaries

Term Definition
two blessing hands

Jewish symbolism. Two hands, with four fingers each divided into two sets of two fingers, is the symbol of a priestly blessing — this signifies a Kohen, a descendant of the biblical high priest Aaron. The plural form of Cohen is Kohanim or Cohanim.

Synonyms - handen van een Cohen,hands of a Cohen
urn

paramaribo NOT urnThe word urn comes from the Latin "urna", which is derived from the verb "urere", which means to burn. A strange distraction, because an urn is actually a vase or cup in which cremation remains are stored. But the vase or cup gets the name urn because of that function.

The use of urns goes back a long way. In ancient times, for example, urns were used that were placed in urn fields. Urns were also used for ashes by the Greeks and Romans. Although ash pits also occurred, a lot of ashes were also kept in urns. With the advent of Christianity, the burning of corpses was prohibited. Urns were no longer used until they reappeared in sculpture as a symbol of classical antiquity referring to death and mourning, whether or not covered by a mourning veil.

An urn on a funerary monument is often half covered by a mourning veil, this symbolizes the covering of life.

weeping willow

paramaribo NOT willow

Symbol of grief and sorrow. The hanging branches symbolize the flow of tears that disappear into the earth. For the ancient Germanic people, the willow was the symbol of death.

Synonyms - treurwilg,treurboom,willow
X.P.

Monogram of Christ. The monogram is composed of the Greek letters X (Chi) and P (Rho), which form the first letters of 'Christ'. The oval circle around it, the egg, is the symbol of birth and new life. It is also a reference to the resurrection of Christ. Often also together with alpha and omega. Also called IX as an abbreviation of Christ.

Synonyms - xp