Celtic
Tattoos
Celtic history goes back thousands and thousands of
years. Early Celtic people were well known for their
skills in artwork of jewelry, metal, and even weapons. They
were warriors as well, regarded as fierce fighters by the
Romans. Throughout Ireland, there are many examples and
evidence of Celtic artwork and Celtic crosses.
Over the years, modern Celtics evolved and established
symbols for themselves along the way. Throughout North America,
Celtic people often wear these symbols to let others know that
they are a Celtic descent. The symbols and knowledge have
been passed down through the years, as there is little no
written history. Tattooing however, keeps the Celtic
tradition alive with the infamous Celtic cross and other
popular Celtic designs.
Most Celtic tattoo designs come from Ireland, where the
evidence of Celtic history is very strong indeed. The
Trinity College found in Dublin, Ireland, contains many
manuscripts that document the Celtic heritage and
symbols. The height of Celtic tattooing however, occurred
during the era when stone and metal work was really
popular.
Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most
common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a
never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also
Celtic animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in
design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design
normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet. The pure
knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an
individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.
The meaning behind the knots in Celtic tattoos defies any
type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper
level. The interlacing of the knots expresses the
repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual
elements. The strands and their never ending path is a
popular design for Celtic tattoos, representing life, faith,
and love. For many years, Celtics have used these designs
for emotional as well as heritage purposes.
Those who are from a Celtic descent, Irish, Scots, or Welsh,
normally find a Celtic tattoo to be a great way to express
their heritage pride. These tattoos help to reestablish
pride, and give tribute to one’s ancestors. The tattoos
aren’t easy to do, most taking several hours. Unlike
other tattoo designs, Celtic tattoos are among the hardest
designs in the world.
If you are from a Celtic descent and have decided to get a
Celtic tattoo, the first thing to do is find an artist capable
of doing the tattoo. The designs are very difficult and
not all tattoo artists can do them. It’s always best to
find a tattoo artist who has a background in Celtic designs, as
this will ensure the tattoo is done correctly. The artist
who does the tattoo needs to have an eye for detail and exact
line placement – which is a skill that not all tattoo artists
possess.
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