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Irish Tattoo

There are many Irish symbols seen throughout the world. The shamrock, for example, is a three-leafed young clover that is used as the unofficial symbol of Ireland. Used to signify good luck as well as Irish heritage, some men and women of Irish decent choose to get a shamrock tattoo. Some other Irish tattoos include: Celtic Knots - intricate patterns that are arranged into historical forms that can be traced back to ancient times Harps - the harp is a traditional symbol of Ireland Words, such as names or sayings, in Gaelic Faeries Claddagh

Irish and Celtic Tattoos Some people who get Irish tattoos do so because the imagery of Ireland holds special meaning. The claddagh is one of those images that evokes strong feelings. This symbol consists of a heart surrounded by two hands and is topped off with a crown. The claddagh is said to represent friendship - as well as love - with the three parts each signifying a different own sentiment. The crown is for loyalty, the hands are for friendship, and the heart is for love. The Celtic cross is an ancient symbol native to the Celtic lands and predates Christianity. It was originally used by the Druids as a symbol of the moon goddess, but as many people converted to Christianity and Catholicism, what this cross represented changed to it's current Christian meaning. There are even different meanings assigned to Celtic knots, depending on the pattern of weaving and shape. For instance, a Celtic knot in the shape of a heart. A three-cornered Celtic knot is also known as the "Trinity" or the "Triquetra" and represents the unity of heart, soul, and mind. There are many places to get ideas for your Irish tattoo. Books of Ireland's symbols, such as shamrocks, Celtic knots and Celtic crosses, can be a good source of ideas and a basis for the beginning of a tattoo design. Many Tattoo Studios also offer tattoo flash, which often contains Irish- or Celtic-themed designs.

Body art popularity has exploded in the last twenty-five years. Once considered the domain of bikers and sailors, today you can find tattoos on almost anyone, and Celtic tattoos are among the most popular designs chosen today. Characterized by intricate designs of interwoven or "braided" bands, Celtic designs have been appearing in jewelery and tattoo styles for many years but have seen a considerable surge in popularity since the mid nineties. There is a lot of crossover between Celtic and Irish tattoos, and many Celtic Tattoos can also be considered Irish. In fact, there are only a few Celtic tattoos that are not also Irish. These include the spirals of war, a design from the Scottish highlands, and the thistle, which is the national symbol of Scotland. Most Celtic tattoos, such as knots and crosses, are both Scottish and Irish in origin and make perfect symbols for celebrating your Irish heritage.

Celtic Tattoo Designs It's believed Celtic tattoos trace their origins as far back as cave paintings. The Picts, one of the ancient peoples of the British Isles, are believed to have tattooed animal art on their bodies by puncturing their skin with hot sticks to create the patterns. Later on, a blue dye rendered from the leaves of a plant called woad was used to enhance the designs by coloring the skin. Both beautiful and intricate, Celtic tattoos are more than just a design. Most express some religious significance, a mix of Christian and Druid beliefs that have become entwined through the centuries. Why the mix? The Celts had no written form of language and passed on all of their traditions and beliefs orally. However, when Christianity reached ancient Britain's shores, monks introduced the first written language to the culture and began incorporating Celt designs into Christian symbolism as a way to bridge the gap between Druids and Christ. Much of this incorporation is represented in The Book of Kells, a work by those same monks, which has been preserved at the library of Trinity College in Dublin Ireland. The Celtic cross and shamrock are two prime examples of their work. While there is definite symbolism attached to Celtic tattoos today, for most people wearing them it has little or no relation to what the Druids themselves may have originally intended. Still, it shouldn't prevent anyone from enjoying these tattoos for what they have come to mean today. History is a living entity, constantly evolving, and we evolve right along with it. Today people are more likely to choose a Celtic tattoo because it "looks cool" than for any religious significance; be it Christian or Pagan. The most common theme in Celtic tattoos is the knot. These knots have no beginning or end, meaning you can start at any given point and follow the loops around to the point you started at without a single break. These patterns are thought to represent the intermingling of the spiritual and physical realms, and the never ending continuity of life, and as such are very powerful symbols. A variation on the Celt knot theme is the animal interlace. The knot work is still present, but instead of an uninterrupted connection, the cords of the knots begin and end in the animal's feet, tail and head, as represented by the dog, scorpion and ever popular red dragon, favored by those of Welsh decent. Tattoos, whatever their design, have been part of the human experience for thousands of years. That band of knots around your wrist or upper arm, or that butterfly on your ankle provides an unspoken connection to our ancestors of many centuries past. You can wear ink to express your heritage or personal philosophy, or simply for the pure pleasure found in the artwork, but one thing is certain. The art of tattooing shows no sign of fading into the mists, as the Celtic culture did so long ago.