Celtic Symbols

There’s been a growing interest in tattoos lately,and Celtic tattoo designs are no exception. Celtic tattoos have become a favorite design choice. It is no secret why these are so popular. They are oftentimes done in blackened color with lots of shading and the symbols used are intricate and beautiful. It’s thought that Celtic tattoo designs trace their origins back to a clan that inhabited the British Isles called the Picts. Just about all historians think that the Picts tattooed themselves by puncturing their skin with red-hot tools to produce complex and permanent artwork on their body. Later on, they began to using a blue pigment derived from the leaves of a native plant.

The designs created by the Picts began to have a mysterious religious and symbolic significance. Celtic artwork and symbolism embodied a mix of Druid and Christian religions. The Celts didn’t have a printed language and alternatively communicated their customs and beliefs by word of mouth. Once the first Christian missionaries arrived to the British Isles they established written communication within the Celtic culture. At the same time the monks adopted many of the active Celtic beliefs, and symbols into the Christian religion. This was done in order to bridge the gap between the Druid beliefs and those of the Christians. A great deal of this work was saved by the Christian monks in the “Books Of Kells” which is today housed at Trinity College in Ireland. Therefore the early tattoo designs of the Picts evolved over time and blended with Christian beliefs to form what we know of as Celtic artwork today. The Celtic Cross and Shamrock are two such designs that have survived the test of time.

The Meaning Behind Celtic Symbols

The Celtic Knot

Most Celtic artwork starts with a common knot design. These are attractive knots of interlaced lines that cross over one another repeatedly to produce an exquisite design. These knots don’t have a start or an end they are simply a perpetual knot that goes on eternally. These interwoven lines are thought to symbolize the spiritual and the physical realms of life, which become entangled with each other.

Celtic Tree Of Life Tattoo

Among the favorite themes of Celtic tattoo designs is the Tree Of Life. This in all likelihood goes back as a symbol to the Druidic religion, which was a nature, based religion. Trees frequently symbolize life, growing from a seed into a tree much like a person grows from a child into an adult. Trees are often seen as a life giving plant and are venerated in many naturalistic faiths. There is also an association with Christianity in the Adam and Eve story in which Eve eats the fruit from a tree.

The Celtic Cross Tattoo

Among the most popular and most lasting Celtic designs is the Celtic Cross. The symbolism here is obviously Christian and comes from Jesus on the cross. These are beautiful crosses done with interlacing lines of Celtic knots.

Celtic Heart Tattoos

Another favorite Celtic design theme is a heart. Celtic heart tattoos are once again intertwined knot work in the shape of a heart. Generally done in black color only but can also be done in color. These are exquisite designs and make great tattoos. These are particularly popular among women.

More Symbols Include:

Anchor: Steadfastness
Bell: Weddings, Anniversaries.
Chain Links: Linking of Lives, # of children, Years together.
Cross: Faith, Marriage.
Diamond: Wealth, Good Fortune.
Dragon: Symbol of Wales, Protection.
Flowers: Affection or Courtship, Friendship.
Heart: Love.
Horseshoe: Good Luck and Happiness.
Key: Home
Knot: Everlasting, together forever.
Leaves: Love Grows.
Ship: Smooth passage through life.
Vine: Love Grows.
Wheel: Willingness to work for a loved one.
Double Spoons: The Couple Together Forever.
Triple Spoons: Family.

Celtic tattoos have survived the millenniums as a symbol of pride and tradition. Since the first Romans saw that tattoos adorned on the body of dead Celtic warriors, there has been a fascination about the tattoos and how the body art both inspired the warriors into battle and how they made the connection between tribe and clan. Today Celtic tattoos have regained their popularity and have hit the tattoo world like a hurricane. People are clamoring to have the Celtic tattoo to be apart of their body are collection and seemingly want to know the connection to the honor and loyalty of a civilization past.

When picking out a Celtic tattoo there are many designs in which to choose from. You have to consider the area of body you want to place the tattoo in order to make it more appealing to the eye of the beholder. The length and width of the tattoo should show some symmetry to the body area where you wish to apply the art. For example a woman with skinny ankles would not want the person looking at her to be attracted to her flaw. Instead she might decide to put the tattoo around her calve in order to draw attention to a body part more pleasant. Other reasons to choose the tattoo to fit your body part are the intricacy of the design. A very intricate design takes a steady hand for the tattoo artist and a proper canvas, your body, to get the job done right.

A popular tattoo that is drawn from European beginnings is the Celtic cross tattoo. Appearing around the 8th to 11th centuries, the Celtic tattoo represented a cross. The cross is decorated with an intricate knot pattern that flows within the cross with no evidence of a beginning and end. The Celtic cross is presumed to have Christian religion backgrounds, but it is presumed by some acadamians that the Celtic tattoo had more pagan backgrounds. Pagan means that it is not Christian and should not be confused with Satanism or other dark arts. Whether Christian or pagan, the Celtic tattoo that is shaped like a cross is one of the most popular Celtic tattoos today.

There are other Celtic tattoos that have different shapes and meanings to their form and most can be found at a tattoo artist that specializes in Celtic tattoo art. The artwork and intricacy of the knot pattern can make this an expensive tattoo and you would want to make sure that the artist was credible when negotiating a price. Selecting and wearing a Celtic tattoo is a life choice and you must be able to make sure the design you choose will last and that you will be happy with your choice in years to come. Whether it is for religious or historical reasons or you want to show the pride of your heritage, a Celtic tattoo is a symbol of honor. Don’t just rush to your local tattoo shop and pick out a Celtic tattoo that looks good. Research the history and when that ink meets the skin you know you will be following the tradition of a true warrior nation.

Celtic Design Tattoos

Celtic design tattoos have experienced a massive revival in recent years. The history of the Celts goes back thousands of years. The early Celtic people displayed their skills in complex artwork and were regarded as fierce warriors by the Romans. Influences for Celtic design tattoos and evidence of Celtic crosses and Celtic artwork can still be found all over Ireland.

Modern Celtic people have evolved symbols for themselves, and North Americans, of Celtic descent often adorn Celtic design tattoos to show off their Celtic origin. The ancient Celts passed knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn’t keep many written records. Consequently, there is little evidence of their actual Celtic design tattoo preferences remaining even though Cross Celtic design tattoos and Knot Celtic design tattoos are very popular designs.

Most of Celtic design tattoos are taken from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts The Book of Kells, which is on display in the library of Trinity College in Dublin. This manuscript represents a much later time period than the time period of the height of Celtic design tattoo. Designs from ancient stone and metal work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic design tattooing.

Knot Celtic design tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning, much like the Mobius strip, symbolizing the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Celtic animal (zoomorphic tattoo designs) designs are similar in construction but the cords traditionally terminate in the feet, heads or tails of the Celtic design tattoos. Pure knots are usually unending, unless the end of a strand is stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral.

The intricacy of Knot Celtic design tattoos, defy literal translation and their meaning are to be found at a deeper level. The repeated crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlacing of the knots. The never ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the continuum of life, love and faith. For these reason Celtic design tattoos have become incredibly popular.

If you are of Celtic heritage, whether Irish, Scots or Welsh, getting Celtic design tattoos is a way of expressing pride in your heritage by reaffirming an affinity to the indigenous artistic style of your ancestors. Celtic design tattoos are not easy designs to recreate, and it is strongly recommended to make sure that your artist has experience in designing Celtic design tattoos. Not all tattoo artists have such an eye for detail and exacting line placement required for the intricate patterns particular to Celtic design tattoos.