Christmas Symbols in Cemeteries
It's ancient Christian shorthand
Welcome to Tui’s Tombstone Travels:
Notice anything different? No, I did not get a new haircut, but I did change newsletter providers. Don’t worry; you’ll still get my newsletter in your inbox twice per month. It may just look a bit different. (If you have any questions, hit reply and ask me.)
Ooh! I also changed the name of my newsletter to “Tui’s Tombstone Travels” because it just FITS, doesn’t it?
Before we dive in, I’ve gotta give a shoutout to Keri Samples. I recently spoke at her library in Richardson, TX and it was fabulous! Here’s a photo we took while I was setting up:
Here's what I've got for you in today’s newsletter:
1) Here’s why Xmas is NOT disrespectful!
2) Two Talks about the Santa Claus Bank Robber
3) My Upcoming World Travels!
4) Secrets in Stone: Michelle Fisher interviewed me
5)Grave Talks interview: Cemetery Symbolism
6) Historic Cemetery Cleanup
7) Share your cemetery news with me
8) ICYMI: Fun stuff
1) Here’s Why Xmas is NOT disrespectful
For my December article in American Cemetery and Cremation, I touched on a pet peave of mine: Xmas vs Christmas.
TL;DR: Xmas is ancient Christian shorthand for “Christ,” and therefore “X” does not, “take the Christ out of Christmas,” as folks often proclaim. Anyone who says so simply does not know their history.
You can read my full article here: Xmas in the Cemetery (The article touches on much more than just Xmas, I also get into the symbolic meanings of holly, mistletoe, and more. Fun stuff!)
2) Two Talks about the Santa Claus Bank Robber
With Christmas around the corner, perhaps you’re in the mood for something a little less heartwarming than that standard Hallmark movie to spice up the holiday season.
If so, I heartily recommend my book: Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True Crime Saga in Texas. (It also makes a great stocking stuffer for history and true crime buffs.)
In-person presentations:
If you’re in Texas, I extend my invitation even further. Come out to libraries in Watauga and/or Lake Worth to see my lively presentation about this crazy-but-true tale about the legendary Santa Claus Bank Robber.
In 1927, the biggest manhunt in Texas to date was for none other than a very bad Santa who robbed a bank in Cisco, Texas. My research uncovered surprising links between the incident and a mysterious blonde woman who has been dismissed by all the official records.
It’s a crazy tale, but it’s true!
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024: Watauga Public Library
Come see me at Watauga Public Library (7109 Whitely Rd, Watauga, TX) on Tuesday, Dec 10th, 2024 from 5-6pm. Here’s a Facebook events link to my talk: Santa Claus Bank Robbery presentation.
Thursday, Dec 12, 2024: Lake Worth Library
I give another presentation about the Santa Claus Bank Robbery at the Mary Lou Reddick Public Library (7005 Charbonneau St, Lake Worth, TX) on Thursday, Dec 12th at noon. More details here: Book Club Presentation by Tui Snider.
Come say hi at either or these events! I’d love to give you a hug before I take off again…
3) My Upcoming World Travels!
Take off again? What’s that? Well, immediately after that second talk in Lake Worth, my hubby and I head to DFW Airport where we hop a flight to Norway. There we will cruise up the coast on a mail boat and hopefully see the Northern Lights along the way.
After that, we spend several months circumnavigating the globe on a couple different ships. As always, I will visit as many historic cemeteries as I can. I even have plans to meet up with newsletter readers along the way! (I’d love to meet up with you, too, if possible.)
That’s another big reason I moved my newsletter to Substack: so I can easily share photos and other tidbits with y’all as we travel.
4) Secrets in Stone: Michelle Fisher interviews me
Michelle Fisher of Haunted History Chronicles recently interviewed me in a show she’s titled “Secrets in Stone: Exploring Cemetery Symbolism.” I really enjoyed chatting with Michelle for her podcast.
Topics we covered include:
How a cemetery saved my life!
Why I always say: “cemeteries are for the living.”
Common misunderstood cemetery symbols.
How the same symbol can mean different things.
Much more!
You can listen here: Secrets in Stone: Exploring Cemetery Symbolism
And here’s another podcast! The charming Carol Hughes interviewed me for The Grave Talks.
Tui brings forgotten stories to life as a Texas-based expert in cemetery symbolism and haunted history with her bestselling books Understanding Cemetery Symbols, 6 Feet Under Texas, and Paranormal Texas.
We explore the myths behind cemetery symbols, tips for ghost hunters, and chilling tales of true hauntings in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including Tui’s personal encounter with her doppelganger at a haunted hotel. Whether you're a seasoned ghost hunter or just intrigued by the paranormal, this conversation will leave you inspired to look closer at the graves you pass by—and the stories they tell.
Here’s a link to hear the show: Tui Snider on The Grave Talks
5) Grave Talks interview: Cemetery Symbolism
6) Historic Cemetery Cleanup
For those of you who live in the DFW area of North Texas, Pioneers Rest Cemetery in Fort Worth is having a volunteer cleanup event on December 7th.
Sadly, as of this writing, I can’t attend, but I’m trying to clear my schedule so we shall see! If you have any questions about the event, call Melanie at 682-225-6921. Make sure to tell her Tui sent you. :)
7) Pssst! Pass along your cemetery news
Which reminds me, if you know of any interesting historic cemetery events in your area, let me know so I can pass them along here! (Email: Tui@TuiSnider.com)
8) ICYMI: In case you missed it…
In case you missed it, here are links to some fun things I experienced recently:
I dug into specifics about what I learned as a cemetery symbols tour guide in Italy with hosts, Jennie and Dianne, on the Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast.
Scott Wise and I had a rollicking chat on his show: Paranormal Gateway Parachat
See my past articles in American Cemetery and Cremation magazine (obelisks, skulls, military headstones, etc): Cemetery Shapes by Tui Snider.
Phew! That’s it for now! Keep an eye on my posts on Substack for travel updates, and I’ll pop into your inbox again around the first of the year. In the meantime, Merry Xmas to your and yours! :) ~Tui