Deciding Which Celtic Cross Tattoo is for You

The Celtic cross has long been used as burial stones that can be seen in many cemeteries around the world. For some a Celtic cross tattoo gives them a real connection with their heritage and roots. It is a popular piece of body art as many choose to have a Celtic cross tattoo.

Not Just for Religious Beliefs

Though many people may see the Celtic cross tattoo as a symbol of religious faith, for those of Celtic descent it can merely be an indicator of their pride in their cultural heritage. Welsh, Scots and Irishman are proud peoples and those with their roots deep in these lands want to show their national pride.

People of Scandinavia are also drawn to a Celtic cross as the art of the Norse and Celts have had much influence on each other. The complexity of a Celtic cross tattoo is said to signify the complexity that exists in nature and the otherworld.

The Religious Controversy

Because most ancient civilizations use a cross or a circle as a symbol in their culture, the exact meanings can be highly debated. Arguments can go round in circles just as the cross with a circle within. Meanings can be ambiguous at best depending upon the culture from which you are referring.

The Celts and Religion

The Celtic people regarded religion as a backbone to their customs and traditions. The Celtic cross was first introduced during the fourth century as a symbol of Christianity as Christ died on the cross. The ancient Celtic Druid priests had their own beliefs and it is said that St. Patrick was the one to bring Christ to the Druids. St. Patrick was shown a standing sacred stone with a circle marked upon it. It is said that he blessed it when he made the Latin mark of the cross within the circle and this may very well have been the first Celtic cross.

The Book of Kells

In the ancient Book of Kells the Celtic cross is prominently represented in illustrations of the manuscript pages. You can still find many of these stone crosses that were carved with lines that intertwined and figures of zoomorphic animals in many places of the British Isles and especially in Scotland.

The Celtic Circle and Cross

Interpretations of the circle and the cross are diverse. The circle symbolizes eternity and God’s endless love for us. The cross on the other hand refers to the four corners of earth, the four directions or perhaps the four elements. The four directions of course are east, north, west and south and the four elements are water, fire, earth and air. When the cross and circle are united they can represent a world where space and time no longer exist and communications between the physical realm and the otherworld is possible.

A Celtic cross tattoo can have as much or as little meaning to the person that has this type of body art. For many, it can just be a beautiful piece of body art that they have long admired. It is up to the individual to assign meaning to a Celtic cross tattoo and no one meaning is more correct than another.