Celtic tattoo designs have been in existence for over 1000 years and still remain popular today. Many people who have Celtic tattoos today are themselves of Celtic heritage. However, Celtic tattoo designs and what they represent can be meaningful to anyone regardless of race or creed. Indeed Celtic tattoo designs are usually rooted in emotion and are not meant to represent realistic or tangible items.
Celtic art is replete with interlacing patterns, elaborate knots, spirals, animal forms, and color. They incorporated these elements into jewelery, weapons, and figurines. Due to their lack of a written history, it is difficult to determine whether or not ancient Celts did practice tattooing. However, ancient writings by Julius Caesar do suggest that some Celts, described by Caesar as “rebellious,” did have tattoos. He did not describe the nature of these tattoos. Celtic tattoo designs can be traced back to Christian priests who entered Ireland following the Roman invasion. They had ambitions to convert the Celtic people to Christianity. Upon arrival, hey discovered that the Celts did not have a written language and needed to find another way to interest them in the Bible. Priests began to adapt Celtic art elements into the Bible, decorating them and translating biblical imagery into the Celtic style. One of the most famous examples of this can be seen in the design of the Celtic cross. Most Celtic tattoo designs are taken directly from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts “The Book of Kells.” Others are inspired by older designs found in stone and metal work.
Celtic tattoo designs are highly symbolic. They often include continuous loops with no start or finish. This symbolizes eternity and the continuous cycling of life and death. They also represent the concepts of love and faith. Many modern seekers of the Celtic tattoo also seek to represent their pride in being connected ancestrally to the Celts with Celtic design tattoos. Thus, Celtic tattoo designs have a rich and rather political history. Their execution requires an exacting eye and a good deal of talent. However, even those who do not have a Celtic tattoo can appreciate their innate beauty and the interesting history of their development.
