Give the Gift of Celtic Culture on Jewelry This Christmas

This Christmas season get your " Irish Up" and give someone a piece of Celtic jewelry. A strong and sometimes mysterious people known as the Celts lived all over Central and Eastern Europe. The Celts even managed to settle in large numbers in the British Isles. The eventual presence of the Roman Empire forced the Celts to remove themselves to distant places such as Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. Still Celtic culture bloomed in these remote pleas and many examples of early Celtic jewelry come from these traditional Celtic areas.

The symbolism in Celtic jewelry represents the traditions and rituals of the ancient Celtic people. Traditional Celtic symbols include the cross and spiral designs. The Celtic cross while now associated with Celtic Christianity actually existed for two centuries before the Christian cross. It represented the ability to endure; while Celtic spirals represent eternity.

Rings and bracelets many times feature the Celtic knot which represents eternal love. It is a poplar pattern these days for brides and grooms to exchange on their wedding day to symbolize their eternal commitment to each other. Pendants are also a popular form of Celtic jewelry Pendants feature the Celtic knot, Celtic cross, or even a dragon. The dragon in Celtic symbolism stood for enlightenment and fertility. The myth of Saint George slaying the dragon represented the triumph of Celtic Christianity over pagan Celtic beliefs.

The Celtic cross is worn by believers and non-believers alike. St. Patrick in legend is supposed to have created the Celtic cross by drawing a circle over a Latin cross. Most the think the Celtic cross stood as a symbol in Celtic culture before the introduction of Christianity. The Catholic symbolism of the Celtic cross is the circle represents God's eternal love.

Others see the four points of the Celtic cross representing the forces of nature being fire, earth, water, and air. Still others believe the points represent the directions of a compass or the composition of human life being mind, body, soul, and heart.

Celtic Knots universally have become to mean the truth of eternity and interconnected spirit. Individual tribes may have had other meanings for Celtic knots. Some say the loops confused and kept away evil spirits.

Claddagh Rings are named after a village in Galway where legend says the rings were made. The rings have a heart symbolizing love and a crown symbolizing loyalty. These objects are held two hands symbolizing friendship. The saying associated with the giving of the Cladding ring is "let love and friendship reign." When the ring is worn of the right hand it means the wearer is single and when it is worn on the left the wearer is spoken for.

You certainly do not need to have a Celtic origin to wear Celtic jewelry. The symbolism of Celtic culture is universal in appeal and there are many other symbols that can be worn on Celtic jewelry than mentioned above. Do a little research of the symbolism of Celtic culture. You will find a piece of jewelry that expresses what you want to say to the world.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-symbol-meanings.html

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