Celtic Tattoos

Celtic tattoos are an awesome way to display the heritage of the Irish, Scottish or Welsh. It conveys pride in both heritage and ancestry. The meanings of the Celtic images are what inspire most tattoos of that nature today. The Irish Illuminated Manuscripts has books that offer many images that can be used for Celtic Tattoos.

Celtic tattooing is believed to have started back when Celtic Stone and Metalwork began. The Celtic artistry in general dates back thousands of years and includes their festive creations of metal, jewelry and weapons. For this reason, Celtic artwork and crosses that are commonly used for Celtic tattoos can be found all over Ireland today. These images often appear in many other Celtic countries in modern communities all over the world. With that said, it isn’t just the historic Celtic images that are being used for tattoos. Many of the original images have been modified almost entirely to create symbolism for today’s tattoo patrons.  It is fun and acceptable to play with Celtic tattoo images to create one that fits your heritage, spirituality, beliefs and tastes.

People get Celtic tattoos for different reasons. Some are far from their homeland and want to display their heritage. Others respect and admire the Celtic culture while some simply like the look of the image. While the reasons to get a Celtic Tattoo image inked on your body are endless, you should consider why and what the image symbolizes before getting the artwork permanently embedded on your body. Celtic tattoos can be very rewarding if you have researched the meanings, origins and different types of Celtic Tattoos. Simply put, it is important that you know why you want the Celtic tattoo image, not just because you quickly seen the drawing and liked the way it looked. Take your time; this will be with you forever.

While there are many Celtic tattoo images and variations that can have a plethora of meanings, we will cover the symbolic message of the most commonly used images. First, the knot tattoo is made of intertwining and twisting knots. Generally, they have no beginning and no end, which symbolizes the never-ending cycle of death and rebirth. The exception to this rule is the zoomorphic Celtic tattoo which comes to an abrupt end and incorporate animal heads, tails, body or feet at the ends. Some other variations of the Celtic tattoo include spiral designs, maze designs, color and size. Other meanings include those that defy interpretation on a very deep spiritual meaning that encompasses continual growth and progression. The deeper meanings and personal interpretations are one of the reasons that the Celtic tattoo has become so mainstream and popular.

Celtic tattoos can be recognized by their color, complex knots, intertwining patterns, animal forms, and symbols that are well known and indigenous to the Celtic world. While some Celtic designs are purely black, others have splashes of color to spruce up the art or make it appear more realistic. Take a look and find the perfect Celtic tattoo for you.

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