The poets have called us ‘weepers’
Cemetery vegetation is part of the beauty and significance of the sacred places where we remember our beloved deceased. Willows and trembling aspens make us think about the thin line between life and death.
During World War I, which lasted four years, hundreds of thousands of soldiers fought and died in the fields of Flanders, in Belgium. That is why many of these men still rest in Flanders, far away from their homelands. They are remembered in monuments and cemeteries like the Old Cemetery of Hasselt (Hasselt’s Oud Kerkhof).
Hasselt’s Oud Kerkhof has been a protected monument since 2004. It was constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries and it is no longer in use. It remains as an historical place. The Old Cemetery is known by people in Hasselt as “the little cemetery of Père-Lachaise”, comparing it to Paris’ biggest graveyard due to its great architectural work.
Walking through this cemetery reminds you of the tragedies of human history, but it also makes you think of the serenity and peace of rest. The Greeks thought that the gods wove human misfortunes to serve as entertainment. Whether this is true or not, what cannot be denied is that we humans learn from our own violence and build public memory so that these chapters, in which thousands of people pay, without merit or guilt, tribute to horror, are not repeated.
It is striking how trees in cemeteries not only provide aesthetic beauty, but also embody symbols and meanings that enrich the experience of visiting these places. On the eve of All Saints’ Day, these trees invite us to reflect on life and death, and to find solace in the continuity and beauty of nature, even in times of mourning and sadness.
If we look at the type of trees that accompanies the rest of our loved ones, we will find weeping willows, cypresses, veno trees or oaks. The symbolism of the willows and trembling aspens makes these trees the majestic architecture of the place. On the one hand, the willow’s long, drooping branches, which seem to weep, give it a melancholic and reflective appearance, making it a fitting symbol of mourning and sadness. On the other hand, the trembling aspen is an elegant tree, known for the trembling of its leaves at the slightest breath of wind. This characteristic is therefore associated with the ephemeral nature of life and death.
At the same time, the vitality of the vegetation encourages us to move forward, to live life with enthusiasm, and creates a comforting space. It was reminded of this popular saying: “The poets have called us “weepers”, but I have not a leaf of sadness in me”.
