The tribal groups that lived in Western and Central Europe from the Late Bronze Age through the Iron Age were known as the Celts. One of the things that united them was the Celtic language, but other similarities in burial practices, religion, and art, such as jewelry making, gave them another way of unity.
The Celts loved making jewelry, but even more so, they loved to wear it too. Today, admirers of Celtic culture can find these masterfully beautiful designs to give as gifts to someone special.
The Importance of Celtic Jewelry
Celtic jewelry is more than a thing of beauty. It represents the storied history of Irish heritage. Dating all the way back from 2000 BC to 500 AD, craftsmen made these intricate designs with gold and silver.
The symbolism in Celtic jewelry comes in threes. You’ll see that with knots, stones, leaves, corners, and other designs. It mirrors the Celtic belief that everything important will appear in a set of three.
In the case of a knot, it can represent a relationship’s past, present, and future in a simple yet stunning way. These Celtic jewelry designs are often passed from one generation to the next as significant heirlooms.
Gift Ideas for Those That Love Celtic Jewelry
Since Celtic jewelry is unlike anything else, it makes a perfect present idea for anyone that loves Celtic culture. It keeps the ancient traditions of the Celts alive through impactful symbols and pays tribute to that history.
It also incorporates natural elements like shamrocks and trees, capturing them in exquisite detail. A gift of Celtic jewelry is one that will show true meaning behind it in a vast array of forms from rings and necklaces to bracelets and earrings.
These three presents will surely show how you feel while letting anyone that loves Celtic culture have a chance to bring that meaning with them everywhere they go.
1. Celtic Claddagh
The Celtic Claddagh is a traditional symbol used to represent loyalty, love, and friendship. This design features hands coming together to hold a heart with a crown on top. As per the rule of threes, these symbols each have their own meaning.
The hands that come together are symbolic of friendship while the heart stands for love, the central focus of the design. Atop the heart, the crown conveys loyalty. The Celtic Claddagh is often seen as a ring, though it can be crafted into other pieces of jewelry including bracelets, necklace pendants, and earrings.
There are traditionally two meanings that the Celtic Claddagh will bear when you present it as a gift. The first is one of love, whereby the bearer of the gift gives with their hands the heart and crown. The second denotes that love and friendship shall always rule for eternity.
With a Celtic Claddagh, it makes a spectacular and symbolic gift for friends or family of any age. You can give it for birthdays or holidays to truly say what is in your heart.
2. Celtic Knot
Celtic knots have stood for the endless power of love since ancient times. There are different kinds of Celtic knots, each with their own meaning. The Trinity Celtic knot is perhaps the most well-known, and in Latin, is called ‘Triquetra’ which means ‘three-cornered.’ This knot features three interconnected ovals with one that points upward while the other two point downward with one to the left and to the right.
The Celtic spiral knot is said to represent eternal life and the forces of nature. It features a single, uninterrupted line to show the oneness of unity and spirit. With the sailor’s Celtic knot, it is said this simple symbol was made to endure long voyages and represent a bond that can never be broken.
With the Dara knot, which comes from the Irish word that means ‘oak tree,’ this sacred tree inspired the interconnected design that symbolizes no beginning or ending. Celtic love knots, shield knots, and Solomon’s knot are a few of the other designs.
They are all beautiful in their own way, and with so many special meanings behind them, it is easy to pick a Celtic knot that can show the way you feel for a loved one. By giving a Celtic knot jewelry design, it is something that will last a lifetime.
3. Celtic Tree of Life
The Ancient Celts believed that the Tree of Life had magical powers. They would leave one big tree in the center of their fields when clearing their land. They would gather underneath the branches of the lone tree, a place that gave them food, medicine, and shelter. It’s little wonder why they believed it was so powerful.
There are many ways to interpret the symbol of the Celtic Tree of Life. Some say it represents balance in nature, though it can also mean strength, longevity, and wisdom. This tree also represents rebirth as the fall season sees it lose its leaves only to be reborn again in the spring. With such deep meanings, it is little wonder that this will make an impressive gift for a wonderful woman.
Traditionally, Celtic jewelry was designed simply from gold or silver. Today, you can shop celtic jewelry and find it with pops of color through gemstones to make each piece an even more significant gift for the people most dear to your heart.
