Celtic Design Tattoos

Celtic History

The term Celt, from which Celtic is derived, can refer to many different peoples from Europe (and the United Kingdom) who spoke Celtic languages. Most people today think of the Celts as those who lived in what is now England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The languages that are still spoken today that are considered Celtic are Irish, Scottish and Welsh, and they all derived from a common language.

There is some debate as to who else in Europe was deemed Celtic. Some people who lived in France at the time of Julius Caesar, for example, were also called "Celts", but they themselves used the term "Gaul", or even Gaelic. Other parts of Europe had those who designated themselves Celtic, including parts of Spain (Galacia and Cantabria). Today, most of the places which were deemed Celtic in the Middle Ages and before have lost all traces of the Celtic heritage and language. Today, there are only six countries/states that are considered Celtic: Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.

The Celtic culture and heritage is rich in meaning and symbols, and for that reason many people look back to this culture for symbols to get tattooed. Celtic design tattoos are extremely popular, particularly with Wiccans and those of Celtic ancestry, due to the strong beliefs associated with the symbols.

Typical Celtic Symbols

There are several different types of symbols that are typical in Celtic culture. One of the most important is the Celtic knot, a design made of interwoven lines and designs that are representative of stories or a specific part of Celtic culture. Celtic knots and bands can be seen on many different tapestries and artwork from early on in the Middle Ages (and even before), and some early tattoos seen on the Celts and the Picts were created from these knots. Archeologists have found that there are eight elementary knots that create the rest of the patterns found in Celtic knotwork. Some of these knots are formed into a straight line, creating a band, while others adorn mystical shapes like the triangle and circle. Besides the obvious religious connotations of these shapes, there is not believed to be any mystical or religious meaning to just the Celtic knots themselves.

Another common symbol is the Celtic cross. This cross, which is formed like a lowercase "t" with a circle around the arms, predates the beginning of Christianity in the United Kingdom, although it was eventually co-opted by Christians who wanted to use the symbol to represent Christ. This cross is also a popular choice for tattoos.

Getting Celtic Design Tattoos

The popularity of Celtic design tattoos means that many tattoo artists and shops are expert at inking this sort of design. Most, however, go by a set style of Celtic tattoos found in flash art. If you are looking for an obscure Celtic knot style, or you want a specific Celtic image, it is often a good idea to speak to your artist before having the tattoo inked. He or she can often draw up the tattoo you desire from source material, such as books and pictures that you provide.

Celtic Design Ideas

The wide amount of Celtic tattoos out there means that there is no shortage of ideas for those who want a Celtic inspired tattoo. Here are a few sources to get you started:

• Tattoo Finder has many, many different images with Celtic themes.
• LuckyFishArt also has flash available for sale, most with a Celtic theme. The owner can also help to create a perfect tattoo image just for you.
• TattooJoy also has a large variety of Celtic pictures, ranging from Celtic knots to more Wiccan themed tats.