The history of the Celtic Crosses A Celtic cross refers to a symbol which has a cross with a ring around

the intersection of the cross. According to many Irish Catholic priests, the Celtic crosses symbolize eternity and reflect the love of Jesus Christ emphasizing the never-ending Gods shower on life. Now-a-days, this symbol has been produced in the form of different tarot cards, jewellery, tattoos etc as it is considered very sacred. The cross was used as a form of decoration in the Celtic Christian world and moreover in the mid 1800s it was known to be used as a grave maker. This cross is considered to be the most popular and the oldest pattern for reading the tarot. There is no such particular universal meaning of the Celtic cross. It has different meanings according to different interpretations and different perceptions. The four arms signify either the parts of man or directions or elements. The circle in the centre might be representing either the sun or the moon. But however the Christians view it as the halo of the Christ. Religious significance Of Celtic crosses One would be delighted to know that the most common theories relating to the origin and history of the Celtic cross deal with the religious connotations. The Irish Catholics believe that when the Celts got converted to Christianity, the Cross was declared as the emblem of the Celtic Christian Church. The circle in the centre has been interpreted by them as the mystery of resurrection and crucifixion of Christ. Early Interpretations The early explanations of the origin of the Celtic cross include the use of the symbolism from the ancient priests and other holy persons. According to these theories, the cross represented the four corners of earth. Some other religious people believe that vertical and the horizontal sections of the cross imply the combined forces of heaven and earth. According to some sources, it is found that the stone Celtic crosses were actually carved from the stones of Druid. But this theory also like many other theories remains unproven. However the Irish legend has a firm belief that St.Patrick drew a circle over the Latin cross for incorporating the pagan goddess symbol while creating the very first Celtic cross. The Celtic cross Tattoos The Celtic cross itself prominently stands out among all the modern crucifix designs and crosses. Hence the Celtic cross tattoos have become widely popular now-a-days. However much of the translation of the design of the cross tattoos remains a mystery for everyone as these are very primitive and have no reliable written records. People have no other alternative than to believe on the oral histories. The cross tattoos instil a spiritual vision of our universe. Originally, the Celtic design tattoos were originated from the magical legends of the Celts. The Celts had been successful in finding the connection of all the life forms. The detailed design is also termed as the Irish Cross. The tattoos are worn as a symbol of pride in Scottish and Irish ancestry. Basically they represent ones own heritage. The symbolism and the representations of the cross can be concluded in ones own way.

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