Celtic cross designs are full of meaning which reminds one about the ancestry or beliefs of the bearer. Many people, upon hearing the word “Celts”  might think of something dark, ancient and non-Catholic or non-Christian group. The word Celtic designates the origins of people from Britain and other European countries. It also specifies images and representation from this culture.

The ancient Celts refer to the indigenous people from a diverse group of tribes and are brought together by family (Clan) beliefs, trade and language. Ancient Celts have their own language, local form of government and a wide variety of religions (including Christian). Mosted notedly their religions were called polytheism.

The conversion of many Celts into the Christian religion why in some areas in Britain, Scotland, Irelandand northern Europe recognizes the Celtic cross as a symbol of the Christian religion or of the great cultural heritage of their ancestors. Reguardless of the conversion however, Celts are full of close relations to nature and have meanings for various things. 

The Celtic cross for example; Celtic cross tattoo is the most common Celtic type design in tattoo shops. For most Celtic cross tattoos, the design bears a circle around, or inside of, the beams of the cross intersect.  In Christianity, it coincides with the idea of “God’s eternal love for the people” and the cross is the most sacred symbol of their faith.

The Celtic cross tattoo expresses the continuous cycle of life through the interweaving of loops and curves in its design. For the Celts, the Celtic cross is has meaning involved with nature. The four rays or the four beams of the cross depict the four elements (Earth, Wind, Fire and Water). In other ways, the two beams, which are the horizontal and the vertical ones, can represent the four directions, the North, South, East and the West.

The history of these Celtic tattoo designs is quite long and diverse. The symbols and representations of Celtic tattoos are still being discovered. If you’re planning to have a Celtic tattoo, keep in mind that a Celtic design is not of a Cult origin, but is instead a form of art. The self-expression using the Celtic tattoo designs can still be religious in meaning, but it can also simply be just a facinating form of art in skin.