Celtic Cross Designs: Christianity, Paganism or Patriotism?
The Celtic Cross is a very visually appealing design that has withstood the test of time. It has endured for at least fifteen hundred years, and possibly a lot longer. Over the centuries, its symbolic meaning has changed. This article will trace the meaning of the Celtic Cross as it shifts throughout history.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the design of the Celtic Cross, it consist of a cross with a ring surrounding the nexus where the two arms of the cross meet. There are two basic varieties. In the first and most common version, the ring overlaps a Latin cross, where the lower arm is significantly longer than the other arms. In the second type, the ring overlaps an equilateral cross, where all four arms of the cross are the same length.
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Although many plain, unornamented examples exist throughout history, the Celtic Cross has more often than not been decorated with carved reliefs on one or both sides. The carved designs include depictions of Biblical scenes, Celtic knotwork designs, spirals, and meandering "Greek Key" line. Interestingly, Jesus is rarely carved onto the face of Celtic Crosses, making them more crosses than a true crucifix.
The Celtic Cross's origins may extend all the way back to the Neolithic Stone Age in the form of the Sun Cross. The Sun Cross is similar to the Celtic Cross in that is consists of an equilateral cross (symbolizing the tree of life) inside a circle (symbolizing the sun). This pagan religious symbol, however, was not limited to the Celtic lands, and Sun Crosses have been found all over Europe from Ireland in the West the Persia and India in the East.
The Celtic Cross as we know it today emerged in Ireland in the 7th century as the Irish were converted to Christianity. An Irish oral tradition tells how Saint Patrick, while converting the Irish, fused the Sun Cross with the Crucifix, merging pagan and Christian religious symbolism and creating the Celtic Cross in the process. Unfortunately, there is no historical evidence to support this story, so it may just be a legend.
Celtic Crosses spread quickly over the Celtic land in the Dark and Middle Ages. The Catholic Church interpreted the ring of the Celtic Cross as symbolizing eternity (because a circle has no beginning or end) and the endless love God has shown humanity though Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Another common Christian interpretation depicts the ring as a halo. By 1500 AD, Celtic Crosses had gradually stopped being made in the Celtic lands. Although this date roughly corresponds to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, it is not clear whether or not the advent of Protestantism had anything to do with the demise of the Celtic Cross.
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The Celtic Cross experienced a revival of popularity in the mid-1800s. The Celtic lands: Ireland, Scotland, and Wales had been under English rule for centuries, and were rankling for independence. During this "Celtic Revival" period, any and all things Celtic were suddenly revived as the descendents of the Celts sought to find a national identity, culture, and language separate from the English. Celtic Crosses quickly became a national symbol, especially for the Catholic Irish, who resented their Protestant English overlords. It was also during this period that Celtic Crosses began to be used for tombstones.
In the last fifty years or so, Neo-Pagan movements, such as Wicca, have embraced the Celtic Cross. More specifically, they embrace the pagan religious symbolism of the Celtic Cross before it was appropriated by Christian missionaries. Although the historical Sun Cross represents the sun and the tree of life, other neo-pagans interpret the ring as the moon instead of the sun. Still other neo-pagan interpret the two arms of the Celtic Cross the representing the intersection of magic ley lines, with the ring representing the stronger nexus of magical energy where the two ley lines meet.
Today, the Celtic Cross appears everywhere from graveyards to jewelry shops. Its symbolic meaning be it Christian, patriotism, or paganism ultimately depends on the owner or wearer's own personal interpretation.
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