Celtic Symbols

The Celtic art and culture became popular because of the elements of both European and Indian heritage in it. Celtic music is still very much liked in all parts of the world and so is Celtic jewelry. Some people wear Celtic religious jewelry merely to follow fashion because it is a mixture of antique designs and modern artwork. These jewelry articles are now widely available on the internet in the form of cross pendants, Claddagh rings, and Shamrock jewelry articles including beautiful pendants and charms. Four-leaf clover charms in gold, silver and platinum are also highly appreciated all over the world.

Authentic Celtic jewelry is very beautiful and eye-catching. Many people like to wear these items as symbols of fashion and style. Lovely hand carved rings with gemstones and diamonds are also exchanged by the bride and the bridegroom on their wedding in many cultures. Celtic spiral and tied-knot rings are particularly notable and famous all over the world. These rings are available in silver, yellow gold and white gold and are quite affordable. A serpent forming a celtic knot is a popular design in these kinds of jewelry articles.

Celtic crosses in the category of religious jewelry come in various styles and designs. They are available in the price range of $50 to $500 depending on their material and the quality of gemstones or diamonds used on them. Pure gold crosses and crucifixes are liked by a lot of people out there because of their beauty and charm. Carnandonagh, 4 Gospels and Duleek cross pendants are beautiful and unique. The Carnandonagh cross is named after St. Patrick. Some of these pendants come with chains, while others are sold without chains. You can find sterling silver and gold charms and crosses at reasonable prices.

Loose charms and crosses can also be found in this category which can be used in all kinds of jewelry making projects. The Celtic cross is a bit different from the traditional cross as it comes with a ring or circle which represents eternity and never-ending love bestowed by God upon mankind. This concept is depicted in almost all Celtic religious jewelry articles. Handmade Irish and Scottish jewelry is admired by stylish and devout people. Authentic Celtic jewelry made in Ireland including two-tone and double-sided crosses, and gemstone and sterling silver cross pendants can be found online.

Among Celtic religious jewelry, four-leaf clover pendants and charms are also worn as lucky jewelry articles. Many people believe that wearing such signs and symbols can bring them good luck or good fortune. The peace sign and the number 7 are also worn as beautiful charms in bracelets and chains. In addition to these, you can also find replica crosses of Moone, Ardboe, Drumcliffe, Durrow and Ahenny. These replica cross pendants come very inexpensive and are truly magnificent. You can find them in the price range of $70 to $100 which is quite affordable. Celtic cross pendants with real gemstones are also admired across the globe.

If you are looking for exceptional and beautiful Celtic jewelry, do check out these unique and attractive religious articles.

How do you enunciate the word Celtic?  Is it pronounced “keltic” or “seltic?”  If you and your friends have been in an argument over how the word is pronounced you can stop.  You are both correct. But is one more correct than the other?

The controversy arises because of the several things.  The origin and manipulation of the word “Celtic” is not very clear, and depending on what language it derived from and time period, or even where you live, the pronunciation could be different.

The most popular theory is that it derived from the Greek word Keltoi, which means “people who hide.”  From this Greek term it is believed that the classical Latin term Celtus (keltus) was derived.  These terms referred to particular tribes of people speaking unique languages such as Cambric, Cornish, Manx, and more, who lived throughout Europe at the time.

The English words “Celt” and “Celtic” didn’t come into use until the early 1700’s, when scholars were describing early inhabitants of Great Britain.  It was an academic term used by scholars studying these early settlers.  As used then, “Celtic” appears to have come from the French word celtique (selltique).  That French word is thought to have come from the Latin word celticus.  Modern British Latin pronunciations were different than classical Latin so the “ce” in “celticus” would have been said like an “s” in the 1700’s.   In classical Latin it would have been a “k” sound.  The “ce” in French words is also pronounced like “s.”  If all of this is true than the 18th century enunciation of the words “Celt” and “Celtic” would have been “selt” and “seltic.”

It is usually proper to speak words the way your particular language enunciates them and not how they were spoken in another time period by another group of people.  Since the term “Celt” came from a French word pronounced with the “c” sounding like an “s”, and nearly all English “ce” words enunciate like an “s” (cement, cereal, cent), it would have been correct at the time that the word “Celt” was pronounced like “selt.” 

Celt pronounced as “selt” actually remained popular until the mid 20th century.  Because of this, old sports teams adopting “Celtic” as part of their name pronounced it as “seltic.”  That is why the Boston Celtics and the Glasgow Celtic football club pronounce it “seltic.”

In the 20th century the Germans of academia got into Celtic studies more and they pronounced the “c” as a “k”, because that is how it is enunciated in their language. It spread around the academic world that scholars were now pronouncing “Celt” like “kelt.”  How this trend really got started is unknown.  It may have been because of the old Greek word “Keltoi” or not.  It is interesting to note that the Welsh and Gaelic pronunciation is “kelt”, and always has been.  Perhaps that also played a part in the change.  Whatever the reasons, scholarly circles now consider “kelt” to be the correct pronunciation among the educated.  Of course this does run counter to English grammar rules for words starting in “ce.”

The argument still goes back and forth as to the completely correct pronunciation of “Celtic”, but you can be sure that there is a valid argument on both sides and neither may be more correct than the other, in case you are ever again in a disagreement with friends or family on the subject.

Is there such a thing as ‘Celtic shamanism’? Probably not.

Do we have a native shamanic tradition within the British Isles? Certainly.

These two statements are in no way contradictory. It only seems that way because of the word ‘Celtic’.

‘Celtic’, in fact, has been so over-used and so abused in its usage, that we can no longer say with any certainty exactly what it refers to. Nor can we assume that the use of the word, by any two different writers or historians, means precisely the same thing.

The fact is that we have little hard evidence about the Celts and, given this vacuum, the people themselves, their practices and beliefs, have been variously mythologized, idealised, and/or demonised in order to create solidity out of Irish mist.

The ‘hard evidence’ and ‘real information’ we believe we have about Celtic ‘shamanic’ practices is not without problem either, since most of it was passed on orally and has been subject to elaborations, embellishments, distortions and, indeed, fabrication, over time.

It was not until the Christian colonisation of Ireland, for example, that the ancient stories, passed from mouth to ear across the generations, began to be recorded in writing at all – and then, we can imagine, they were ‘shrunk to fit’ the Christian agenda. Under this new spiritual regime, for example, the earth goddess, Brigid, is ‘miraculously’ transformed into St Bridget, with similar but quite different attributes to her natural predecessor and, of course, a new-found belief in the ‘one true [male] god’.

Notwithstanding the slight problem of a dearth of factual evidence, however, everyone seems to have their own ideas about the Celts. These ideas are really projections of ourselves onto the fog-screen of history and an archetypal reflection back to us of what we would like, or need, to be true. No doubt it fits our modern, urban, need for romance and escapism to imagine our ancestors as poetic warriors, living wild and free in great sacred forests, in idyllic communion with the whole of nature.

The Romans, however, had very different ideas, stemming, again, from their own (imperialistic) needs. To them, the Celts were savage barbarians, sacrificing their children, prizing the severed heads of murdered enemies, and living in the woods like animals, where they worshipped pigs and dogs and other lowly beasts. Such projections enabled the Roman leaders to justify their invasions of Celtic lands, where they would do us all a favour by ‘civilising’ the barely-human heathens who had the audacity to live there.

The Greeks, too, had their conception of the Celtic people, a somewhat different conception to that of the Romans. They called them Keltoi, which has connotations of ‘Hero’ and also of ‘Strangeness’. The Keltoi were the ones who stood outside of civilisation and had an unusual understanding of nature and the elements. To the ‘civilised’ Greeks, the Celts were still savages, but perhaps they also had something about them, some secret power or knowledge…

In summary, there are as many ‘Celts’ as there are windows into the human imagination. What we know (almost) for certain, is that they lived between 700 BC and 400 AD. Apart from that, their very tribal natures, as well as the different landscapes they occupied and the variation in natural resources available to each tribe, obviously meant vast differences between them in terms of beliefs, customs, culture and living (as well as ritual) practices. Even in the British Isles today, there remain huge differences between the way of life of the Scottish, Irish and Welsh-speaking peoples.

As Emma Restall Orr has written, in her commentary on the ‘classical’ Druid (the Celtic ‘priest’), as a man “in white robes, bearded, with ornate staff and golden sickle tucked into the belt”…

“In fact, this image of the Druid in white is little more than two hundred years old, created during a period of revived interest in the tradition when one picture from the classical literature of two millennia ago was chosen from many: Pliny’s image of the Druid cutting mistletoe from the sacred oak. If Strabo had been used, the stereotype might be rather different, but his Druids – in red, adorned with gold – had not perhaps the dignity and nobility that was needed”.

Despite its fanciful nature, however “it is this figure that is responsible for drawing many into the tradition. But what is that tradition?”

SHAMANS OF BRITAIN

Druidry is the native spirituality of Britain, which has its origin in the animistic principle of honouring the earth, the ancestors, the elements, and the connection between all things. “Druidry emerged out of the rocks and forests and rain of Britain, and its very nature is wrapped in the beauty, power and shifting stories of all that Britain has been over many thousands of years”.

For Orr, the focus of Druidic practice is ‘awen’, an old British/Welsh word which means ‘flowing spirit’. The word contains notions of creative genius and poetic imagination, in a similar way to the Irish word ‘imbas’, which refers to a sense of wonder and inspiration.

“Understanding that all creation is imbued with spirit (matter and physicality being the creativity of spirit), the Druid knows that it is in relationship, spirit to spirit, that inspiration is found… In recognizing the spirit of some aspect of creation, be it elemental, plant, animal, rock or human, we are given the opportunity to know our own spirit, to respond from our own spirit… Where spirit touches spirit, where there is communion on this level and the energy of life is exchanged, awen flows. [Awen] is the lightning that reaches between earth and sky, between lovers’ eyes.

“Yet simply breathing in the beauty of inspiration is not enough. It is the Druid’s responsibility to ensure that this energy continues to flow, spirit to spirit, for energy which is held in the body or soul stagnates and swells with sickness or pride. So inspiration must be expressed, the energy inhaled must be exhaled, and this is done through the Druid’s creativity”.

What we might call the Keltic ‘Path of the Hero’ had, we imagine, three ‘Ways’ or areas of expertise: The Way of the Bard, the Ovate and the Druid, each with its own means of inspiration and creative expression.

THE BARD is the poet and storyteller, who weaves magic and mystery with words, and can find mystic prayers, blessings and songs of empowerment, of protection, and enchantment. His words have the power to harm or to charm, to soothe and to transport the listener into the worlds of poetic imagination, where the wellspring of creative genius, the shamanic landscape, is to be found.

THE OVATE is the seer, who perceives the holism of the world, the bigger picture of life intertwining with forces beyond the mundane and the human. His is the power to foretell futures, to witness the past, and to understand its cosmic dance into the life-yet-to-come. Through this, he may unravel the past and shift the events of the present so that new potential and healing may come in to being.

THE DRUID is more fully the shaman, the rounded Man of Power, who knows the arts of the Bard and the Ovate, and is able to use these skills, and personal magic, to negotiate with the spirits, the elements, and the power of nature Herself, in order to bring back their gifts to the tribe. The church of the Druid is the sacred grove of the forests – a “church not made with hands” – which exists within, is part of, and represents the infinite power of Nature.

“The sacred text is the landscape within which we live. Its language is that of the deciduous forests, the ancient oaks, the heather-tinged moors, the meadows of grass lit with buttercups and daisies, the long dark winters that creep into the bones, the laughter and dance of chilly May evenings. Its path has been trodden for many thousands of years by those who found inspiration in the beauty and fertility of these lands”.

The very mention of ‘Celtic shamanism’ will inevitably lead to debate, discussion, and argument, notably between academics, frustratingly unable to pigeonhole the meaning of that elusive concept; but also among ‘new agers’ with a cosy modern notion of forest rituals and flowing robes; and among more conservative members of the public, who are likely to view it as in some way similar to ‘witchcraft’ or perhaps even ‘Satanism’. It seems that we all have a notion of who the ‘Celts’ were and of ‘natural British magic’.

For that reason alone, it may be best, in some ways, to forget the word ‘Celtic’ altogether (‘Keltic’ is, in any case, more accurate) – but not to forget the power of its tenets and beliefs.

Creative genius, poetic imagination, the power of Nature, and the living Spirit of the World; these are the things which will create positive change in our lives, the skills which need to be honed.

Celtic cross tattoos are the most powerful way of expressing your faith in God’s love. The cross is regarded mainly as a symbolization of Christianity nowadays. The Pagan followers consider it as the symbol of sun demonstrating its life-giving qualities. The designs of Celtic cross tattoos have gained the attention of thousands of people from all over the world and they are the most popular tattoo designs now. People of Celtic ancestry wear the cross tattoos to show their respect to their ancient culture.

Celtic cross tattoos with knotwork are a more complicated design since they symbolize the complexity of nature. The knots in the spirals and mazes show the reflective nature of the four seasons, the circle around the cross depicts the ancient religious meaning.

The Celtic cross is represented well in the Book of Kells. In fact, many religious cultures have The Celtic cross as the system of symbols. Hence, there is no wonder why many people have a high regard for Celtic cross tattoos.

Celtic cross tattoos have a deep connection to pre-Christian religion. When the ancient Celtic people converted into Christianity, naturally the Celtic cross became a symbol of Celtic Christianity. Ireland offers so many variations of the Celtic cross. Celtic cross tattoos are awesome in appearance, there is no denying this, and the legend of Celtic history now continues to grow in the form of Celtic cross tattoos.

Celtic cross tattoos are indeed found in ancient Bible manuscripts. Many elaborate Celtic designs are inspired by the fabulous drawings found in those books. These Celtic cross tattoos are not only beautiful but when used as tattoos – they are also flexible. You can use them to be tattooed as small armbands or you can ink them in the entire back area. The designs can be either simple or complicated. Whatever the design, they express the importance of emotions rather than a physical object which shows the powerful meaning of life.

Many Celtic cross tattoos feature the beautiful artwork of ancient Celtic knot work. These represent ethnic heritage and faith. The four points in the cross represent the four parts of man or the four elements that include earth, wind, fire and water or the four points in the compass. Celtic cross tattoos with circle symbolize the love of God or the majesty of the Sun God according to Pagan beliefs.

Though different people may have different meaning for the symbol, Celtic cross tattoos are something that can evoke the spiritual emotions of people. Again, the flexible style and decorative nature of the designs gain great popularity among tattoo lovers. Importantly, the size of the cross can be reproduced easily to ink them anywhere on the body.

It is important to know the meaning of the Celtic cross tattoos before wearing it. A common person may not understand the meaning of these symbols. However, I must admit there is a growing awareness of Celtic culture nowadays; it is almost a popular trend to be versed in Celtic culture. You need to take the appropriate care to avoid misrepresenting the design. Be sure to check out online galleries – there is a plethora of quality designs available only if you know where to look. Choose the right design, think hard about the placement, ignore the critics and you will have no regrets.

English and French sound very dissimilar when you hear them spoken, but these two languages actually share quite a few commonalities, especially when written. Understanding the history of the two languages will help you understand the similarities and differences that they enjoy.

History of Modern French

Both French and English started in European countries. French is a “Romance” language, which means its origins lie in the ancient Roman Empire. Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, but since the Empire had such a vast reach, many areas developed their own dialects of the language, often mixed with the languages of the native people. When the area that is today known as France was invaded by Germanic tribes in the 400s, the language took on a decidedly Germanic flavor. The native tongue of the new governing body was mixed with the Latin the people were speaking to create a new dialect, decidedly Latin, but with Germanic pronunciations.

As the Germanic tribes maintained control of the area, the language digressed further from Latin and became its own distinct tongue. This required the language to be codified, or written, so that political and legal process could take place much easier. The language was named “French” for the Frankish people that lived in the area where it was predominantly spoken. French became the official language of the new country in 1539 by the Edict of Villers Cotterets. The grammar of the language has remained relatively the same since the early 1600s, which is when the language was standardized by the French Academy. Today it is the official language of 22 countries, and the co-official language of many others, including Canada, Switzerland, Madagascar, and Belgium.

History of Modern English

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. A truly global language, it is the language of finance, technology, and diplomacy. This is surprising in light of the fact that the language originated on the tiny island of Great Britain.

The English language is not a Romantic language like French. Because the island was isolated from the Roman Empire, it was not influenced as heavily by Latin as the inland languages were. However, French and English share one main commonality, and that is the influence of invading Germanic tribes.

While different tribes invaded England than invaded France, they spoke similar languages. Prior to the Germanic invasion, the people of Great Britain spoke a Celtic language. However, the Germanic people spoke a language that eventually developed into Old English. This was the language spoken on the island until 1100.

In 1066, France and England’s histories overlapped, when the William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, conquered the island and brought French to the land. While the people did not speak France, the government did, and the language began to influence the language of the common people, eventually developing into Middle English, a combination of French and Old English. This gradually developed into Modern English, the language that is spoken today, and the invention of the printing press made it possible to unify and standardize the language.

Words Common to French and English

The overlapping influence of the Germanic tribes and the French influence on English history cause there to be several words that the two languages share. The pronunciation may be different, but these common words include:

-Anniversary
-Art
-Armoire
-Attaché
-Ballet
-Belle
-Bric-a-brac
-Brunette
-Bureau
-Café
-Chaise lounge
-Chic
-Cliché
-Clique
-Commandant
-Concierge
-Cul-de-sac
-Décor
-Entrée
-Entrepreneur
-Extraordinaire
-Façade
-Faux
-Fiancé
-Forte
-Hors d’oeuvre
-Impasse
-Layette
-Laissez-faire
-Liaison
-Lieu
-Material
-Melee
-Montage
-Motif
-Mousse
-National
-Passé
-Petite
-Rapport
-Reconnaissance
-Restaurateur
-Sabotage
-Saboteur
-Sans
-Touché

Celtic Woman ? musical band, formed by five Irish and a New Zealander female artist, offers music ranging from traditional Celtic tunes to modern songs. Chloe Agnew is a part of the band as a vocalist along with Orla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, Meav Ni Mhaolchatha and Hayley Westenra. The band also includes a violinist Mairead Nesbitt.

Celtic music is known to be the music of Ireland or Europe. Artists Enya and Clannad hold the title, to introduce Celtic music to rest of the world. Celtic Woman introduced it together with theatrical performance of ?River-dance? and ?Lord of the Dance? because of which they have been referred to as the ?River-dance for the voice?.

So far, the group has to its credit three albums named ?Celtic Woman?, ?Celtic Woman – A Christmas Celebration? and ?Celtic Woman – A New Journey? and have been on several world tours.

Arranged by producer – Sharon Browne, Chairman and CEO – Dave Kavanagh and music director and composer – David Downes, Celtic Woman was recorded at The Helix, Dublin, Ireland on 15 September 2004 in front of a sell-out audience. Since it was recorded for PBS Television thus, was first broadcasted in United States in March 2005. Shortly, the group’s debut album ?Celtic Woman? was on top of the Billboard’s World Music chart, remained there until 22 July 2006 (68 weeks), and held the top ranking for a total of 81 weeks breaking any other long-standing record for any album. PBS media hype throughout 2005 is said to be the main reason for success of the group in United States. The live performance at The Helix was released on DVD together with the studio album.

On 19 October 2006, The release of the second album ?Celtic Woman – A Christmas Celebration? hammered out their first album to the #2 spot on the World Music chart. Celtic Woman performed at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland on 23 and 24 August 2006, in order to prepare for their third studio album, which was broadcasted on PBS in December 2006. On 30 January 2007 the studio album titled ?Celtic Woman: A New Journey?, was released, together with the release of their live performance on DVD. The album instantly hit the Billboard 200 at number 4 and topped the Billboard World Music chart again; however, it knocked out their earlier two releases down a spot. The band now secured the top three positions on Billboard World Music Chart.

The Chairman and CEO of Celtic Woman – Dave Kavanagh, together with EMI has shaped Celtic Woman into an International success. Celtic Woman reveals the unique voices and styles of each of the girls as soloists as well as fantastic band numbers. The talented four Irish female vocalists and the electrifying violinist of Celtic Woman with Composer & Music Director – David Downes, have shaped a breathtaking musical experience.

Since their debut in March 2005, Celtic Woman has made a great impact on audience in United States. They have achieved a lot in a very less time a list of which is as follows: ? Their first PBS special has been aired over 3400 times on 316 PBS stations nationwide since its March 2005 debut. ? Their self-titled debut CD and DVD have been certified platinum in United States. ? They have performed four incredibly booming U.S concert tours, including sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall, Carnagie Hall, Boston?s Opera House and the Greek Theatre in LA. ? Their debut album Celtic Woman has held the number one position on the Billboard World Music chart for over 95 consecutive weeks. ? They have appeared on The Today Show, Live with Regis & Kelly, The Megan Mullaly show and on Brian Boitano?s Skating Spectacular that aired on NBC on New Year?s Eve 2007.

Globally, Celtic Woman?s debut CD has gone platinum in South Africa and ?A Christmas Celebration? has been certified gold. The DVD has also been certified gold in Australia along with CD in Japan. Germany, Canada & New Zealand are also very strong markets for the band.

It is now time to take A NEW JOURNEY with Celtic Woman! This female Irish group of adorable voices has recorded a brand new studio album offering the trademark Celtic Woman sound, which has had a huge impact not only in the US but also in many countries around the world including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & Germany. The album is an impressive collection of modern-day hits such as ?Beyond the Sea?, ?The Prayer?, ?Scarborough Fair?, ?Over the Rainbow?, old favorites ?Lascia Ch?io Pianga?, ?Vivaldi?s Rain? and Irish standards ?D?laman?, ?At the Ceili?, ?Caledonia? and ?Mo Ghile Mear?.

Since the debut of their first PBS TV special in March 2005, Celtic Woman has turned into a public television stir. Up till now, their debut program has aired over 3400 times on 316 PBS stations (a total of 93% of the PBS stations in America) making it one of the most successful PBS fundraising shows in the previous year.

On December 2, 2006, Celtic Woman?s new TV special – A New Journey, was covered by 90% of PBS during the December pledge period, setting up a new record for their success on PBS. The live concert was filmed at Slane Castle – the home of Lord Henry Mount Charles, in County Meath, Ireland (a venue that has also hosted concerts by U2, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen
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