Are you searching over the internet on a mission to find the perfect Tattoo Design? Well, worry not, if you’re looking for the best Tattoo to show off your Celtic faith or heritage, then look no further as we bring you some of the very best Celtic Cross Tattoo Designs the internet has to offer.
What Does A Celtic Cross Tattoo Mean
A Celtic Cross is similar to a traditional Latin cross, but it often has a circle around the intersection of the arms and stem or has Celtic artwork adorning its design.
The Celtic Cross is a symbol of faith in Christianity. The cross represents Christ’s sacrifice, while the circle behind it is believed to symbolize God’s eternal love or Christ’s halo.
Irish, Scottish, or Welsh descendants use Celtic Cross Tattoos to represent a connection to their Celtic heritage and culture, as the intricate knotwork in the design highlights the beauty of Celtic art.
Some see the Celtic Cross as a symbol of balance and unity. The four arms of the Celtic Cross represent a balance between the spiritual and physical worlds, the balance between the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), or the balance of the four cardinal directions.
The Celtic Cross is also seen as a representation of our mind, soul, body, and heart.
Celtic Cross Tattoo Ideas
Now that we know a little about Celtic Cross Tattoos let’s take a look at some of the best Celtic Cross Tattoo Designs.
Dara Knot Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Dara Knot is one of the most recognizable Celtic designs. This symbol is closely associated with the oak tree, particularly the tree roots. In Irish, “Dair” means oak, one of the strongest and longest-living trees, symbolizing inner strength, wisdom, and endurance.
Oaks were revered by the Celts as sacred trees, often seen as symbols of wisdom and divine power. Since the knot mirrors the oak tree’s roots, it highlights a connection to nature and a grounding force. The symbol can represent one’s link to the earth, stability, and the life force found in nature.
Triquetra Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Triquetra or Trinity Knot often represents the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Christianity. In pre-Christian Celtic tradition, the Triquetra was usually linked to the triple goddess, which represents the three stages of a woman’s life: maiden, mother, and crone.
These stages can also symbolize the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, the phases of the moon, the balance and unity of the mind, body, and spirit, and the natural world through the Earth, Sea, and Sky.
Triskelion Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Triskelion or Triple Spiral, like the Triqetra, can symbolize the cyclical nature of life. The three spirals often symbolize birth, death, and the afterlife, suggesting eternal life and the soul’s continuous journey.
The spirals in the Triskelion give the symbol a sense of movement, which is often seen as a metaphor for progress, action, or personal growth. It embodies forward momentum and the idea that life is always evolving.
Claddagh Ring Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Claddagh Ring is a traditional Irish symbol representing love, loyalty, and friendship. The heart at the center symbolizes love, be it romantic love or love for family and friends. The crown on top of the heart represents loyalty and fidelity, and the two hands holding the heart stand for friendship and support.
Irish Harp Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Irish Harp, or Cláirseach, is one of Ireland’s most iconic symbols. It symbolizes Ireland’s national identity, with its deep roots in the nation’s history, culture, and music.
The Harp appears on Irish coins, passports, government documents, and even the Guinness logo. In ancient Celtic mythology, it was considered a sacred instrument, often linked to the gods and used in religious ceremonies.
The harp also symbolizes Ireland’s resilience and struggle for independence. During English rule in the 16th and 17th centuries, the harp, along with other Irish traditions such as music and language, was suppressed in an effort to diminish Irish culture. Despite the British oppressors’ best efforts, the harp remained a powerful emblem of Irish identity and resistance, especially during Ireland’s fight for independence in the early 20th century.
This Celtic Cross is in honor of the Irish Hunger Strike of 1981, a protest where Irish Republican prisoners starved themselves (10 to death) in protest of the British government’s decision to remove their “Special Category Status,” which treated them as political prisoners rather than common criminals.
Arum-Lily Celtic Cross Tattoo
Another Celtic Cross Tattoo that honors the lives of the Hunger Strikers. This time, the Celtic Cross has an Aru-Lily at the center. The Arum-Lily or Calla Lily is often used at religious ceremonies like funerals as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection.
The Celtic Cross is surrounded by the sentence, “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children,” a quote by Bobby Sands, one of the victims of the Hunger Strikes.
Valknut Celtic Cross Tattoo
This Celtic Cross Tattoo features a Nordic Symbol at its center. The Valknut is a symbol consisting of three interlocking triangles that is often associated with the God Odin. It is often seen as a symbol of warriors who have died in battle and are being guided by Odin to Valhalla.
The Valknut represents the transition between life and death and the honor of dying in combat, a core value in Viking culture, making it a symbol somewhat similar to that of the triskelion and triqetra.
Shamrock Celtic Cross Tattoo
Possibly the most recognizable symbol of Ireland, the Shamrock has long been associated with Irish identity, heritage, and folklore for centuries. The Shamrock is most famously associated with Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, who used its three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to the Irish during his mission to convert them to Christianity in the 5th century.
In Irish folklore, the shamrock is also considered a symbol of good luck, though this is often confused with the four-leaf clover. Wearing or carrying a shamrock was believed to ward off evil spirits or bad luck, and during the late 18th and 19th centuries, it also became a symbol of Irish nationalism and resistance against British rule.
Helm Of Awe Celtic Cross Tattoo
Another Viking Tattoo, this Cross, has a Norse Helm of Awe Tattoo at its center. The Helm of Awe or Ægishjálmr was a symbol used for protection in battle. Vikings believed this symbol would inspire fear in their enemies and protect themselves from harm.
Beyond the battlefield, the Helm of Awe was considered a symbol of spiritual protection. It was believed to protect the mind and guard against fear, doubt, and negative influences.
Sacred Heart Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Sacred Heart is a significant symbol in Christianity, especially Catholicism. It symbolizes the divine love and compassion of Jesus Christ for humanity, embodying Christ’s compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.
The flames around the heart symbolize the burning intensity of Christ’s love, the thorns represent his suffering during the crucifixion, and while not shown here, the pierce mark on the heart calls to the stab wound Jesus received from a Roman soldier following his death representing his sacrifice for the redemption of humanity.
Rose Celtic Cross Tattoo
Rose Tattoos, apart from the heart, are the quintessential symbol of love and romance. However, depending on the color of your Rose, it can also have various meanings. This includes purity (white), friendship (yellow), admiration (pink), or grief (black).
Minimalist Celtic Cross Tattoo
Minimalist Tattoos are perfect for those looking for small and discrete Tattoo Designs but still want to have all the symbolism associated with their chosen design. While Minimalist Tattoos often don’t feature a lot of intricacy, when it comes to Celtic Designs, they still need to showcase the intricate knotwork, but on a smaller scale such as this.
Skull Celtic Cross Tattoo
Skull Tattoos, despite their somewhat morbid appearance and often being associated with death and the macabre, also have a lot of positive symbolism. This can include rebirth and transformation, strength and survival, or even rebellion and defiance.
Tree Of Life Celtic Cross Tattoo
This Celtic Cross Tattoo features a Tree of Life. A Tree of Life Tattoo can symbolize the link between the heavens, earth, and the underworld, representing the source of life, the connection of all living things and the cycle of life and death.
The Celtic Tree of Life was believed to be a portal to the spirit world, as trees were central to Celtic spirituality and were considered the ancestors of mankind.
Eye Of Horus Celtic Cross Tattoo
Much like the Celtic Cross Tattoos with Nordic imagery, you can also choose to pair your Cross with imagery from other faiths or beliefs. This Celtic Cross Tattoo features the Eye of Horus, an ancient Egyptian symbol representing protection, health, and restoration.
Dragon Celtic Cross Tattoo
Dragon Tattoos can have a wide variety of meanings based on which Dragon you choose to adorn yourself in. A Celtic Dragon Tattoo can symbolize power and wisdom. Celtic Dragons were seen as mystical beings who existed in a parallel dimension to our own, whose power affected the land wherever they flew.
Family Crest Celtic Cross Tattoo
To really show off your heritage, why not pair your Celtic Cross Tattoo with your family emblem? Family emblems are a type of logo that can represent a family’s values, achievements, and history. They are often used in the form of a coat of arms or crest, which can include a shield, helmet, and motto.
Fox Celtic Cross Tattoo
Something a little different, with this design the Celtic Cross is paired with an Animal Tattoo of a fox. A Fox Tattoo can symbolize adaptability, cleverness, luck, or fertility. This is due to Fox’s ability to thrive in a variety of environments through its cunning and clever nature.
Saint Brigid's Cross Tattoo
St. Brigid’s Cross is an ancient Irish symbol associated with St. Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland’s patron saints. Traditionally, the cross is made from woven rushes or straw and is hung over doorways in Irish homes to protect the household from harm, fire, and evil spirits.
The cross is closely associated with St. Brigid’s Feast Day, celebrated on February 1st, which coincides with the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc. Imbolc marks the beginning of spring, and the cross symbolizes renewal, fertility, and the nurturing power of nature as winter transitions into spring.
Where To Get Your Celtic Cross Tattoo
Design is one thing, but you also need to consider where you want to position your Celtic Cross Tattoo. So, let’s take a look at some of the best places to get your potential new ink.
Back Celtic Cross Tattoo
The back is the quintessential place to get the largest and most intricate tattoos. With a lot of space over a large flat plane, your tattoo artist should have no problem to go wild with your design.
Celtic Cross Tattoo On The Sternum
The sternum is a unique place for your Celtic Cross Tattoo. This location is terrific for women as the correct design synergizes well with the anatomy of the breasts. Keep in mind that the sternum may be a painful place to get inked as it is directly on top of the sternum bone.
Shoulder Celtic Cross Tattoo
The shoulder is a great place to get your Celtic Cross Tattoo, particularly for first-time tattooers. This location has a lot of muscle and fat, which will help dampen the pain. One of the drawbacks of Shoulder Tattoos is that unless you live in a warmer climate and wear vests often, it may be difficult to show off your ink as much as you’d like.
Celtic Cross Tattoo On The Hand
The hand is the perfect place to get a tattoo if you want to show it off as often as possible. However, this location is known for being rather painful due to the hand having very thin skin and a lot of tendons and bones.
Forearm Celtic Cross Tattoo
Lastly, the forearm is a terrific place to get inked. Not only is it one of the least painful places to get a tattoo, but it can also easily be shown off and concealed by simply rolling up or down your sleeve.
Conclusion
So, we reach the conclusion of our inspiring journey through the Celtic Cross Tattoo. We hope that you have found the inspiration you were searching for. But hey, if Celtic Crosses still don’t inspire you, why not check out these Anchor Tattoo Designs, these Medusa Tattoo Designs or these Yokai Tattoo Ideas.
