| Well, why not? Ha-ha! Seriously, why would you | | | | be from the UK to warrant wearing a Celtic |
| want to get a Celtic tattoo? In case you haven't | | | | tattoo. If you're from the United States, it's |
| gotten around to thinking about it much, we'll | | | | pretty common to have a family member who is |
| discuss a few elements and associations that may | | | | English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh, even if you don't |
| not have come to mind yet. | | | | look even faintly white. |
| Celtic tattoos obviously have something to do | | | | Ok, so those are lots of the reasons that folks |
| with the Celts, but who were they? The Celts | | | | are getting Celtic tattoos like they are going out |
| were an Indo-European people now represented | | | | of style. Now, what's your tattoo going to look |
| chiefly by the Irish, Gaels, Welsh, and Bretons. | | | | like? There are a lot to choose from, that's for |
| We'll call that the British Isles. For such a tiny area, | | | | sure. First of all, spirals. Some of the oldest |
| there's a lot of diversity and history in the British | | | | Britons were called Picts. They wore bluish tattoos |
| Isles. Just the geography alone includes England, | | | | or war-paint into battle. We're lucky enough to |
| Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to say nothing of | | | | have stone carvings from the period, which show |
| Scotland's coastal Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland | | | | varied symbols including the sacred spirals, the |
| islands. When you hear people mention Celtic | | | | wheel of Taranis (their version of Thor), and the |
| tattoos, they generally are referring to the | | | | tree of destiny. |
| pre-historic designs used either in the decorative | | | | Celtic tattoos in knotwork have to rank right up |
| arts or by warriors. | | | | at the top among the currently popular Celtic |
| Celtic tattoos based on art give you an incredibly | | | | tattoos. These designs actually come from |
| rich treasure trove for resourcing designs. | | | | illuminated manuscripts from the middle ages or |
| Because these designs are fairly primitive, they | | | | even before that. Illuminated manuscripts are |
| tend to have less detail than a modern cartoon | | | | books that were written and illustrated completely |
| drawing or anime cell would have, for example. | | | | by hand, before the printing press! When you |
| This means they can look good even in the hands | | | | think of someone, usually a monk, spending a |
| of a less experienced tattooist. The repetitive | | | | lifetime developing these designs, it seems kind of |
| nature of the designs also means that they look | | | | incredible that someone could create this without |
| good on small body parts such as the wrist or | | | | Google image search or Photoshop. The knotwork |
| ankle. | | | | you find in Celtic tattoos usually went around the |
| The Celts' culture has given us the English | | | | edge of the page, and it is almost always seen in |
| language, which you are reading right now, along | | | | band tattoo designs. It can be as simple or as |
| with many of the fairy tales, legends, games, | | | | intricate as you desire. |
| songs, holidays, protestant religion, and literature | | | | Celtic tattoo designs, the two main ideas of which |
| that are a pervasive part of American culture. | | | | are the spirals and the knotwork, can be |
| The primitive and archaic feeling as well as the | | | | transformed into a myriad of beautiful new |
| symbolism behind Celtic tattoos makes these | | | | designs. Some of the things that can be combined |
| designs very attractive. Especially if you live in a | | | | with the spiral and knots are the Claddagh, the |
| large city, surrounded by technology, machines | | | | triangle, animals such as wild boar, bear, griffin or |
| and fiberglass, this connection to our ancient | | | | stag, the sun and moon as parts of the ancient |
| brothers and sisters reminds us that there are | | | | spirituality of the Celts, or perhaps certain heraldic |
| other ways to live, and different ways of being | | | | devices. |
| than what is considered the modern standard of | | | | Celtic tattoo designs might fit you perfectly, but |
| living. | | | | whether they do or not, I hope reading this has |
| From a design point of view, a Celtic tattoo gives | | | | given you some ideas about their historic meaning. |
| you a classic, understated look, while sending a | | | | The Celts' influences are everywhere, so much so |
| subconscious message of association with the | | | | that they're a seamless part of the western |
| "rulers of the known world." You have probably | | | | world most of the time, making a Celtic tattoo a |
| figured out by now that you really don't need to | | | | harmonious and subtle choice for your new ink. |