The following pictures all are of a swastica yet they symbolize different things in different cultures.
Symbols
Anything that is taken to mean something beyond what it is can be said to be symbolic. The sound or written appearance of a word is always a symbol when someone hears or reads it and comprehends its meaning. On a larger cultural scale, a storm can symbolize troubled times in some cultures whereas in other cultures it can symbolize the blessing of the gods.
The following pictures all are of a swastica yet they symbolize different things in different cultures.