Celtic Jewelry - Symbols and Significance

Birds are the symbol and archetype of freedom 'par excellence', having the ability to inhabit the spheres of both land and sky (and, in the case of many species, water also). Thus they represent a missing element in human life, the unattainable - freedom. Birds were also considered by the Celts to be messengers of the gods, as they could move freely between the earth (mortal life) and the heavens (spiritual life).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Below: a few examples of Celtic bird jewelry from Celtshop.com. Click on the photos for details or see more here.

The stag is generally a symbol of the Celtic horned god Cernunnos, the god of all nature, of hunting and of fertility. Seen here on the famous Gunderstrup Cauldron, he sits in the classic pose of Hindu deity statues and holds in his right hand a torc and in his left a serpent - symbols of female and male sexuality respectively.
Incidentally, yes, the notoriously male custom of the 'stag party' is very likely related to ancient rituals based on the worship of Cernunnos.

The wild boar, which was sacred to the Celtic goddess Arduinna (similar to the Roman Diana), was fierce in battle and hard to kill and, as such, symbolised strength and endurance to the ancient Celts. Warriors, in fact, frequently wore boar amulets to protect them in battle. The boar was also a symbol of fertility.

For its unique skin-shedding characteristic the serpent was an important symbol of rebirth and regeneration in Celtic and in many other ancient cultures. The famous symbol of the serpent devouring its own tail (Ouroboros), in fact, represents the cyclical nature of life. The illustration shows the Ouroboros, or 'tail-devourer' (read more about the Ouroborus in Wikipedia).
Paradoxically, the serpent was also both a phallic symbol and, being associated with water, a symbol of feminine power.

The horse, both as a symbol in ancient Celtic traditions and as an archetype in the modern day studies on archetypes and dream analysis, represents inner energy. Consequently, the horse symbolises fertility, power and endurance. To the Celts the horse was often associated with goddesses: the Welsh goddess Rhiannon, the Irish goddess Macha and, especially, the Gaulish goddess Epona, or 'Great Mare' (see bas-relief), who was the only Celtic deity to be worshipped also in Rome. Apart from being associated with fertility, Epona was believed to accompany the dead into the Otherworld.

The famous White Horse of Uffington, a giant hill figure cut in chalk, is believed to be a representation of Epona.

Trees have a natural lifespan that exceeds our own; they are vital to the survival of mankind; they mark the turning of the seasons and the cycle of life, and stand firm against the elements with their roots sunk deep in the earth and their branches raised up into the heavens. There is no wonder, therefore, that one of the symbols most central to the Celts as to many other ancient populations is that of the Tree of Life. The sect of Celtic priests known as Druids, who believed that mankind actually descended from trees, created a tree calendar/alphabet called Ogham, which they used for divination.
The most important tree in Celtic tradition is the oak, which was believed to be a doorway to the Otherworld (the English word 'door' derives from the Celtic 'daur', or 'oak').

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Below: Handcrafted Celtic wedding rings from Irish Celtic Jewels International Limited, featuring the Ogham alpahabet spelling "gra mo chroi" (prounounced Graw mo Kree) which is Gaelic for "Love of my Life".

The Rowan tree is associated with the Celtic fire festival held in February, and with the maiden aspect of the triple goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone, representing the three stages of the life). The Rowan was extremely important to the ancient Celts as it was believed to protect against evil influences by strengthening the positive energy of the person. It takes its name from the ancient word "runa", which in the Norse language means "charm" and in Sanskrit "magician".
These charming silver Rowan earrings are part of a set created by Celtic Dreams.

The universal and well-loved symbol of the mermaid is common to all mythologies but perhaps most popularly associated with Celtic tradition. The mermaid inhabits the depths of the sea, which is a symbol of the unknown, the perilous and powerful and, in psychoanalysis, the Unconscious. She is creature of water, which is the element symbolising the Feminine. Sometimes known as the Siren, in fact, she has acquired ovin the course of time the curious reputation of luring men (i.e. fishermen and sailors) to a watery grave. This was thanks largely to the medieval Church, which used the mermaid symbol (a pagan symbol often found carved in ancient churches), like that of another well-known female figure, Sheela-na-gig to warn men against the temptations of women.
In the psyche, or the soul, of both men and women, however, the figure of the mermaid continues to be a positive, powerful and life-giving symbol.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Below are a few mermaids by one of my favourite jewelry artists, Pierre Toulhoat. Click on the photos for details or see more of his work here.

The Celtic belief in the metaphysical creatures that inhabit both the Otherworld amd the world of mortals, known affectionately as the 'faerie folk', has its origins in both the ancient Celtic cult of the dead and in the worship of the deities of the natural world.
Like gods and goddesses of pagan religions, in fact, the faerie folk were not bound by the moral/ethical codes of mankind and, consequently, were valued, even venerated, for their magical, supernatural powers while being regarded as basically rather untrustworthy as a race.
The ever-popular festivity of Hallowe'en, which is actually a pre-Christian holiday celebrating the ancient Celtic Samhain (Summer's end) and the beginning of the Celtic new year, was considered a 'time between times', an extra day, a time when the veil between the worlds was swept aside and the Faerie folk entered the world of mortals.

Perhaps the most universally celebrated magical creature of all, the dragon is a central figure of many ancient cultures. In Celtic mythology it is symbolic of creation in its entirity, having the body of a serpent (in itself a symbol of balance and wholeness) and the wings and talons of a bird, it represented the union of the life-giving elements of water and air, and of the material and spiritual realms. The dragon was believed to be a guardian - of wealth, and of the gateway to the Otherworld.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Celtic knot is probably the most popular Celtic symbol, and is used as extensively today as a decorative and symbolic element, especially in jewelry and body art, as it was in the ancient days of illuminated manuscripts (the most famous of which is the Book of Kells ).
The simple Celtic knot is generally a threefold knot, such as the
triskele (below) and the triquetra (below). Larger, more intricate knotwork (borders, etc.) is usually developed from or incorporates these single knots.
Symbolism
There is some dispute as to whether Celtic knots originally had any symbolic value or were merely decorative. Considering the Celts' innate love of symbols, however, it is generally accepted that they did. Hence, the 'endless' knot is believed to symbolise eternity, continuity and the cycle of life (a favourite and central theme), while the threefold nature of the main symbols relates to another recurring theme in Celtic tradition - the sacredness of the threesome, as in the three elements earth, fire and water or the triple goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone), representing, among other things, the three phases of human life (childhood, adulthood and old age).
The triquetra, moreover, incorporates the almond-shaped Vesica Piscis, a symbol of the Divine Feminine.