The history of the Celtic peoples goes back thousands of years. The
early Celts displayed their skills in complex artwork particularly
metal, jewelry and weapons as they were regarded as fierce warriors by
the Romans. Evidence of celtic crossses
and celtic artwork can still be found all over Ireland.
Modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and in
the North American people of Celtic descent often wear these symbols
to show that they are of Celtic descent. The ancient Celts passed
knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn't
keep many written records, consequently, there is little evidence of
their tattooing remaining even though Celtic cross tattoos and Celtic
know tattoos are very popular designs.
Most of Celtic tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated
Manuscripts 'The Book of Kells', on display in the library of Trinity
College in Dublin, my home town. This is a much later time period than
the height of Celtic tattooing. Designs from ancient stone and metal
work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic
tattooing.
Celtic knot tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning
symbolizing the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Celtic animal
(zoomorphic tattoo designs) designs
are similar in construction but the cords terminate in feet, heads,
tails. Pure knots are usually unending, unless the end of a strand is
stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral.
Celtic knot work's meaning defies literal translation and is to be
found at a deeper level. The repeated crossing of the physical and the
spiritual are expressed in the interlace of the knots. The never
ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the
continuum of life, love and faith and for these reason Celtic tattoos
have become so popular.
This haunting story has inspired Celtic jewelry makers for many
years now as the swan theme embodies traditional Celtic designs and
Celtic symbols.
A long time ago in ancient Ireland lived an Irish Chieftain named
Lir. He was married to Aobh daughter of King Bodhbh (also called Bov
the Red) of Lough Dergh. They had four beautiful children; Fionnula,
Aodh, Fiachra and Conn. Unfortunately Aobh died giving birth and Lir
was devastated with grief.
When King Bodhbh heard of Lir’s loss he offered another one of his
daughters to Lir in marriage. Lir choose Aoife as his new wife and
stepmother to his children. At first, all when well with the marriage,
Lir doted on his four children. Soon Aoife became intensely jealous of
her stepchildren. She even pretended to be sick for a whole year in
order to look for special attention. One day Aoife told the children
that they we going with her to visit there Grandfather King Bodhbh, as
they had done many times before. Along the way they stopped at Lough
Dairbhreach (lake of the oaks) and Aoife ordered the children to wash
themselves in the lough. Once they were in the water, Aoife cast a
magic spell turning the four children of Lir into beautiful white
swans. Fionnuala cursed her but implored her to put some limits on the
spell. Aoife regretting what she had done agreed to allow them keep
their beautiful singing voices. But the spell still imposed a harsh
sentence on the swan children. They were to spend 300 years on Lough
Dairbhreach, 300 years in the Straits of Moyle and the final 300 years
at Erris. They spell would only be broken when they heard the first
bells of Christianity and when a King from the north marries a
Princess from the south.
When King Bodhbh found out what Aoife had done to the children of
Lir, using a Druids rod he turned her into a “Witch of the air”. As
the legend goes Aoife still blows in the howling wind and her screams
can be heard when a storm blows.
Over the years Lir and many others continued to visit the swan
children. They listened to their enchanting, magical singing that was
said to calm even the most savage beast.
Over the 900 years of the spell they faced extremely harsh weather
conditions. Near the end they traveled to Inish Gluaire where they
first heard the Christian bells and met a Christian missionary called
St. Mochaomhog. They told him of their plight and that they were the
children of Lir. At this time a King from the north King Lairgnean was
due to wed Deach, a daughter of the southern Muster King. King
Lairgnean had heard of the swan’s lovely singing voices and wanted to
give them to his wife as a wedding present. But while King Lairgnean
was trying to capture the swans he touched one of them and the spell
was broken. The swans turned back into their human form, but they were
very old and Withered looking. Fionnula the oldest asked St.
Mochaomhog to baptize them and soon after they died. They were buried
the same way they lived, together. Later that night St. Mochaomhog
dreamed that he saw four beautiful white swans flying over the sea
straight up to heaven. This beautiful Celtic myth has inspired Irish
gifts makers over the years to create wonderful works of art. Many
Irish jewelry manufactures have incorporated the 4 swan theme into
many stunning pieces of children of Lir jewelry
For people who have a Celtic heritage, whether Irish, Scots or
Welsh , getting a Celtic design can be a way of expressing pride in
their heritage by reaffirming an affinity the indigenous artistic
style of their ancestors. They are usually not easy designs to do, and
it is strongly recommended to anyone contemplating getting one to make
sure that the artist they are considering has experience in designing
Celtic tattoos. Not all tattoo artist have the
eye for detail and exacting line placement needed to draw the
intricate patterns particular to Celtic art.
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