by John Gil
One of the most popular forms of temporary tattoos are Irish, or Celtic, symbols.
Celtic refers to people who lived in Britain and Western Europe from 500 BC and 400 AD. Celts were of the Iron Age and lived in small villages which were led by warrior chiefs.
Tattoos were a likely sight among Celtic warriors. Think of Mel Gibsons tattooed character in the movie Braveheart.
Celtic tattoos were a likely sight among Celtic warriors. Think of Mel Gibsons tattooed character in the movie Braveheart.
The Celts engaged in battle bare-chested, or even naked - further reinforcing a stance of intimidation against their foes. Additionally, Celtic warriors would fashion their hair with bright dies (from flower pastes), and typically manipulate the hair in tall spikes around the head (think Celtic punk rock).
Here are some of the more popular Celtic symbols used as tattoos.
The Shamrock Today, the shamrock is generally regarded as a good luck charm, but it is actually an ancient Irish Celtic symbol. The shamrock, a native species of clover in Ireland, symbolized the three dominions of the earth, sky and sea, the ages of man and the phases of the moon. It was used as a charm against evil, which is where today's beliefs about the luck a four-leaf clover brings. In Irish Catholic lore, the three-leaf shamrock was used by St. Patrick to teach the Holy Trinity.
The Tree of Life The Celtic Tree of Life, also known as the Crann Bethadh, was a source of basic sustenance. A bearer of the tree brought shelter, warmth, food and fuel for cooking. The wood from some sacred trees had magical properties and was reflected in the Celtic Ogham alphabet. Each letter of the alphabet represented a particular tree. The Celtics believed that trees were the ancestors of man, and that they were the "elders." The elders provided the alphabet and the calendar.
The Solar Cross The solar cross, also known as Odin's cross and the Sun Cross Wheel of Taranis, is the oldest religious symbol in the world. It appears in Asian, American, European and Indian religious art. The solar cross has arms of equal lengths contained in a circle and represents the movements of the sun. Each quarter represents a season, and the points where the cross meets the circle represents a solstice.
The Shamrock Today, the shamrock is generally regarded as a good luck charm, but it is actually an ancient Irish Celtic symbol. The shamrock, a native species of clover in Ireland, symbolized the three dominions of the earth, sky and sea, the ages of man and the phases of the moon. It was used as a charm against evil, which is where today's beliefs about the luck a four-leaf clover brings.
These are just a few of the Celtic symbols popular today as tattoos. You can search the web to find many more Celtic symbols.
To find more about celtic temporary tattoos visit us at Just for Tonight. This article, Symbolism And Temporary Tattoos is available for free reprint.
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