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The Legend of the Sand Dollar

April 11, 2025 by Kimberly Snyder 15 Comments

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Are you familiar with the Legend of the Sand Dollar? Easter is the perfect thyme to share this poem!

 

Legend of the Sand Dollar postcard

As we draw closer to Easter, it seems like the perfect time to share the story of the Legend of the Sand Dollar.  The legend is a story of hope and peace, something we all need right now.

The legend tells the story of Christ with symbolism found in the patterns and internal structures of the sand dollar.

The top of the shell has a symbol that looks like a star which signifies the Star of Bethlehem.  This is the star that led the Wise Men to the baby Jesus.  An outline of an Easter lily surrounds the star.  Easter Lilies are a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.

There are five holes in a sand dollar – four around the ends of the star and one in the center. According to the religious legend, the four holes represent the four wounds of Christ when his hands and feet were nailed to the cross. The center hole represents the wound made from a soldier’s spear.

trio of sand dollars on an old wooden piece

On this blog, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.  By using my affiliate links to shop, it helps me to be able to continue bringing you fresh new ideas and projects!  Thank you! 

On the opposite side of  the sand dollar, you can see the outline of a poinsettia, the traditional Christmas flower. If a sand dollar is broken open, it is said that five dove-shaped pieces appear.  Doves are often used to represent peace and goodwill.

sand dollar with "poinsettia " side up, displayed with a shell ornament

Isn’t that a sweet legend?  The white color of the sand dollars come from being bleached by the sun.  White is also a symbol of purity.

What Are Sand Dollars?

Sand dollars are actually the skeletons of  keyhole urchins.  These urchins are found in various places around the world including both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States.  They are somewhat fragile and resemble old American coins or old large Spanish coins.

sand dollar ornament

Where did my Sand Dollars come from?

Some of the sand dollars that I now have were collected by my grandmother when she & my grandfather used to vacation in Florida in the late 1950s and early 1960.  The others were collected by Dave’s Mom.  His parents also vacationed in Florida and ultimately retired here as well.
 
Speaking of Florida, this is probably a good thyme to introduce myself if you are new to my blog.  I am so happy to meet you!  I am a transplanted Mid-Western.  I sometimes say I am a Zone 6 girl living in a Tropical location!  If you are a gardener, you will know what I am referring to when I say Zone 6.  Another way to describe my interests is that they range from flowers (a former florist) to flour (a former pizzeria owner) and many things in between!  My name is Kimberly or Kim and I call my decorating style “Kim” Style!
 
I like to use thyme instead of time when I am writing!  My entrepreneurial journey started many years ago when I first started growing and using herbs.  My journey is detailed in Sprout, Grow, Bloom.

How To Decorate with Sand Dollars

Dough bowl decorated with sand dollars & ornaments

Since moving to Florida, I have often incorporated sand dollars, as well as other shells, in dough bowl centerpieces. If you have been following me for awhile, I am sure this comes as no surprise.  I do have a bit of a dough bowl addiction!

What Exactly is a Dough Bowl?

Dough bowls get their name from their original purpose: making bread dough!  An antique dough bowl was a great place for the bread dough to rise as the wood helped retain the heat which in turn helped the dough rise.  Every kitchen had a least one dough bowl and they were often times handed down through the generations.  Antique dough bowls are also sometimes referred to as trenchers.  Now, instead of being used to actually make dough, they have become a decorating staple especially for Farmhouse decor.
 
Dough bowls come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  The most common shapes are the oval and round.   I have  an oval 20-inch-long dough bowl as well as a few other shapes and sizes.   I love to decorate them for the seasons.  The majority of mine are reproductions.   There are still many antique ones available.

How to Decorate a Dough Bowl with Sand Dollars

I love dough bowls so much; I have added a few more to my collection since moving to Florida!  This rectangle one is also a reproduction.  It is approximately 17 inches long and 8 1/2 inches wide.  The width made it easy to decorate.  To be completely honest, I don’t really care for the carving or the distressing but  I think it actually blends in with the holes on the sand dollars.  The carving/distressing isn’t nearly as noticeable once the sand dollars and other elements are in place.
 
rectangle dough bowl
 
When looking for dough bowls, be sure to pay attention to the dimensions.  I recommend something no smaller than 17 inch long if it is rectangle or oval.  For a round one, it should be at least 10 inches .

The Elements

sand dollars & ornaments in a dough bowl

I am going to combine a few blue Christmas ornaments, sand dollars, two shell encrusted spheres and a candle.  I forgot I had this battery candle with a sand dollar motif.  I could have used it in place of the milk glass candle!

Coastal Christmas Centerpiece front

I found a postcard with the Legends of The Sand Dollar in with my Grandmother’s Florida maps and other mementos,
 
 
It didn’t take very long to put the dough bowl centerpiece together once I had all my elements collected.
oblong dough bowl decorated with sand dollars
 
Dough bowl decorated with sand dollars & ornaments
 
The sand dollar dough bowl can also be used after Easter as a Summer centerpiece.
 
coastal themed summer dough bowl
Coastal Themed Summer Dough Bowl Centerpiece
 
Instead of the milk glass candle, a solar lantern can be used in the center of the dough bowl. To learn more about how I use hanging solar lanterns to add interest to my outdoor areas, please see this post : Add Interest to Your Garden with  Hanging Solar Lanterns
 
 
doughbowl display with solar lantern
 
For more information on how to refresh your outdoor living area, please see this post!  Let’s Celebrate Summer
 
Sand dollar early summer theme

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Happy Easter!

Kim & Dave in front of Easter sign

Dave & I would like to wish everyone a very blessed and Happy Easter!  I hope you enjoyed reading about the Legend of the Sand Dollar!

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. The opinions here are all my own. It helps me to continue to bring to you DIY and projects on my blog.

Please see my disclosure page for more information.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog Post, Decorating & Design Tagged With: "Kim" Style, antique, Architectural Salvage, dough bowl, Easter, Silk arrangement

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Comments

  1. Cindy says

    April 16, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    Such a great post. I never heard of this legend. It makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing!

    Pinned!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      April 17, 2022 at 8:23 am

      I am glad you enjoyed it! It is a great legend! Happy Easter!

      Reply
  2. Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers says

    April 17, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    The legend of the sand dollar is new to me. Very interesting to read. Here via ‘Sundays on Silverado.’

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      April 17, 2022 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you for stopping by, Allyson! Isn’t Sundays on Silverado a great link party? Glad you enjoyed the post!

      Reply
  3. Cara says

    April 9, 2023 at 3:01 pm

    I have never heard of this legend before Kim. Thank you for sharing and enlightening me.

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      April 10, 2023 at 9:17 am

      It is such a sweet legend! I am so glad I found the postcard in my Grandmother’s things. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  4. Kim Beaulieu says

    March 12, 2024 at 6:33 pm

    Love learning new things!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      March 13, 2024 at 9:43 am

      So glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Let's Celebrate Summer - Quick & Easy Refresh - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    May 5, 2022 at 6:01 am

    […] Now this area is a lot more comfortable!  Pictured below is a close up of a sand dollar themed centerpiece.  To see how I made it and learn  more about the Legend of the Sand Dollar, please see this post: The Legend of the Sand Dollar […]

    Reply
  2. Add Interest to Your Garden with Hanging Solar Lanterns - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    May 27, 2022 at 11:04 am

    […] the usefulness of the lanterns, in my opinion.  The lantern was the perfect addition to the sand dollar centerpiece I made for the lanai table […]

    Reply
  3. Decorating with Bowls For The Holidays - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    September 22, 2022 at 3:22 pm

    […] Dough bowls get their name from their original purpose: making bread dough!  An antique dough bowl was a great place for the bread dough to rise as the wood helped retain the heat which in turn helped the dough rise.  Every kitchen had a least one dough bowl and they were often times handed down through the generations.  Antique dough bowls are also sometimes referred to as trenchers.  Now, instead of being used to actually make dough, they have become a decorating staple especially for Farmhouse decor. Dough bowls come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  The most common shapes are the oval and round.   I normally keep an oval 20-inch-long dough bowl on my gathering room coffee table.  I love to decorate it for the seasons.  I believe mine is a reproduction but there are still many antique ones available. Whether your dough bowl is a true antique or a reproduction, the principles behind decorating it are the same.   Your personal style is one of the main things to consider.  If you like something and it makes you happy, then use it to decorate your dough bowl.  Having a dough bowl makes creating a stunning seasonal centerpiece so quick and easy!  Since moving to Florida, I have often incorporated shells in the dough bowl centerpiece.  Some of the shells were collected by my grandmother when she & my grandfather used to vacation in Florida in the late 1950s and early 1960. In the dough bowl arrangement pictured above, I used shells, vintage Christmas ornaments, a battery candle and pine picks.  The battery candle has a mosaic glass look to it and the colors of the Christmas ornaments compliment the colors in the candle.  I originally made this for the Autumn season.  The step-by-step instructions can be found here: Imagination & Spray Paint to the Rescue I was able to quickly transform this arrangement to a more Christmas or Holiday arrangement by simply adding a few more elements.   The little packet of post it notes is a really nice touch, don’t you agree? Speaking of Florida, this is probably a good thyme to introduce myself if you are new to my blog.  I am so happy to meet you!  I am a transplanted Mid-Western.  I sometimes say I am a Zone 6 girl living in a Tropical location!  If you are a gardener, you will know what I am referring to when I say Zone 6.  Another way to describe my interests is that they range from flowers (a former florist) to flour (a former pizzeria owner) and many things in between!  My name is Kimberly or Kim and I call my decorating style “Kim” Style! I like to use thyme instead of time when I am writing!  My entrepreneurial journey started many years ago when I first started growing and using herbs.  My journey is detailed in Sprout, Grow, Bloom. I love dough bowls so much; I keep adding more to my collection!  This rectangle one is also a reproduction.  It is approximately 17 inches long and 8 1/2 inches wide.  The width made it easy to decorate.  This one is can be quickly turned into a holiday centerpiece just by adding some seasonal battery operated candles.  To be completely honest, I don’t really care for the carving or the distressing but most of it will be covered up by the design elements! My cousin’s wife received a set of these adorable Snowman battery operated candles for Christmas one year!  I fell in love with them but got busy and completely forgot about them until I saw them again at their house at Thanksgiving!  I found them on Amazon and bought them as an early Christmas gift for myself!  I do things like that a lot!  I will put a link to them at the end of the post if you are interested in them!  They come with a remote control too!  And the “wicks” move so they look just like real candles! The dough bowl centerpiece looks fine like this.  I decided to add a few more elements.  This whole process took about 15 minutes.  It probably took me longer to put the batteries in the candles!  The carving/distressing isn’t nearly as noticeable now that the candles are in place.  As an aside, I do love to decorate with snowmen.  When I lived in Illinois, I left them out all winter.  I can leave these out until Valentine’s Day. Another seasonally appropriate way I decorated this rectangle dough bowl was to use sand dollars.  See how the sand dollar has a design of a poinsettia on the back of the shell?  More information about the symbolism found on the shells can be found in a post I wrote earlier this year: The Legend of the Sand Dollar […]

    Reply
  4. How to Decorate a Dough Bowl for Christmas - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    November 14, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    […] To read more about how I put the sand dollar themed dough bowl together, all the details can be found here: The Legend of the Sand Dollar […]

    Reply
  5. Red, Rustic & Reclaimed Holiday Decorating Ideas - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    December 21, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    […] In addition to Pudge and the barnwood sign,  I added a few sand dollars.  The design on the back of the sand dollar looks like a poinsettia flower.  To learn more about the symbolism of the sand dollar, please see this post:The Legend of the Sand Dollar […]

    Reply
  6. "Kim" Style - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    April 4, 2023 at 8:45 am

    […] The Legend of the Sand Dollar […]

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  7. Easy Summer Backyard Decorating Ideas - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    May 21, 2023 at 8:27 am

    […] Pictured below is a close up of a sand dollar themed centerpiece.  To see how I made it and learn more about the Legend of the Sand Dollar, please see this post: The Legend of the Sand Dollar […]

    Reply

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Hello! Kimberly (Kim) Snyder and I'm glad you're here. An entrepreneurial spirit, I've owned a flower shop and antiques store, a pizza parlor and now we're in Florida living a new adventure. Join me as we downsize into our new digs and continue the adventures! WRITER & BLOGGER

Kimberly Snyder shares the adventures of moving to Florida and beginning again in a new space as a herbalist, a creative, and a serial entrepreneur

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Not sure if I ever shared this version of the pott Not sure if I ever shared this version of the potting bench. I started decorating it with a lavender theme. I must have gotten distracted before I finished it! It just needs a few potted lavender plants ti finish it! #lavender #farmhousedecorating #gardenstyle #fromfarmhousetoflorida #pottingbench
Simple Summer sugar mold idea! I made the flower o Simple Summer sugar mold idea! I made the flower out of the trim from an old pillowcase.  #sugarmoldcenterpiece #sugarmolddecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida #farmhousedecor #fauxhydrangeas #gardenstyledecor #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
Mother’s Day week is here! If you have been foll Mother’s Day week is here! If you have been following me for a while, you know I can’t resist filling a dough bowl (or2) with blooming plants! I designed this one with a combination of vintage garden tools, an old book and a selection of plants.  It would make the perfect gift fire that special Mom in your life! #mothersdaygifts #mothersday #mothersdaygiftideas #gardenstyle #farmhousedoughbowl #doughbowl #kimstyledecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida
I don’t talk about my faith a lot. I do believe I don’t talk about my faith a lot.  I do believe God puts certain people in your path for a reason.  An example of this occurred on Tuesday.  It was colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy day.  I was really nervous about how it would all work since it was my first time since I had my cancer surgery. 

 The nurse that was taking care of me in the pre op area turned out to be the same nurse who had prayed for me last year. My husband was in the parking lot of the medical center speaking with his friend who happened to work at the center with this particular nurse. I was very sick at the time and they prayed for my healing.  It was great to be able to thank her in person and let her see that the prayers had been answered. ❤️

Then the anesthesiologist came in and told me about his cousin who had also been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer about a year ago. He mentioned some of the treatments his cousin had had and how important a positive attitude is.  I was touched that he took the time to tell me about his cousin’s experience. 

 We had arranged in advance to have my husband’s friend as the nurse anesthesist.  He was able to pray with us as well as reassure us about the procedure.

The procedure went well. The three polyps that the surgeon removed were sent to pathology.  The report is already back and there no evidence of cancer.  Prayers were answered again❤️

#coloncancersurvivor #coloncancer  #coloncancersucks  #colonoscopy #sigmoidoscopy  #fromfarmhousetoflorida
Celebrating my “roots” for Earth Day and beyon Celebrating my “roots” for Earth Day and beyond! The tractor was painted a few years ago by a dear family friend @annrund  The two white wooden hearts were purchased at one of my favorite shops in Illinois @thefeatherednest1  #fromfarmhousetoflorida #farmhousedecorating #gardenstyledecor #gardenstyle #kimstyledecor
Instagram post 18068406688937948 Instagram post 18068406688937948
Two different ways to display this Easter bunny: r Two different ways to display this Easter bunny: rustic wooden box or an oval dough bowl! Which do you like better? #eastervignette #fromfarmhousetoflorida #easterdisplay #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
Need a quick dough bowl decor idea? Simply tie mus Need a quick dough bowl decor idea? Simply tie muslin ribbon around a bouquet of silk tulips! I used white but any color would work! #doughbowls #farmhousedoughbowl #farmhousedecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
In honor of National Pet Day, sharing the first ti In honor of National Pet Day, sharing the first time I met Mowgli! He jumped right up into my arms proving he was #destinedtofly  I just happened to be wearing a #antomiestyle tank!  With Capri jeans, it makes an #everydayanatomie look!

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