Celtic Trinity

Celtic artwork is intricate, delicate and highly symbolic, and the use of flowing lines interwoven often takes on the form of weaving, making it very attractive.

Perhaps the most widely recognized form of Celtic symbols is that of knot work, in fact it has today become an iconic way of defining Celtic heritage.  

Endless weaving
Celtic knot work is characterised by weaving patterns which have no discernable beginning or ending and were so revered in ancient times that many Christian scriptures and manuscripts make use of these delicate and beautifully twisting designs in a prolific way. 

Historians believe that Celtic knots had religious significance which were meant to reflect the intricacy of all things, could ward off evil, yet no written reports exist that either confirm these beliefs.  In fact no written word exists today that can in fact tell us what these intricate designs were originally created for.

Much of what we believe and understand about these designs and symbols has been handed down through folk lore, and it is universally understood that these strands ties us together as each generation passes and they tell us that we are interwoven with those around us.  They also remind us of the interconnectedness we have to life and those that have passed away as well as the connectedness we have in life with god cannot be separated.

The Celtic trinity knot
The Celtic trinity knot represents unending love.  Love between lovers, friends, family, parents or children yet the meaning behind the trinity knot is beautiful.  Also known as the Triquestra, the trinity knot takes the shape of three sides.  It is still not clear exactly what the Triquestra meant to the Celts however as it is used more in Christian documentation but it has also been found in carvings on rune stones all across Europe left behind by the nomadic Celts.

The Triquestra was originally a triangle meant to depict or symbolize things and people that are three fold such as mother, daughter, grandmother or the holy trinity.

The Significance of Rings
Celtic rings were cherished by the ancient Celts and they considered them one of the strongest symbols of marriage, or as a way to convey messages of never-ending love either between god and humanity or between man and woman.  They crafted their rings in precious metals which were also meant to convey the message being delivered was as precious as the metal it was wrought from.  The message of love and friendship still stands today.

Many Celtic symbols have been lost over the centuries, but one that still stands strong is the un-broken trinity knot with its three sides.  The Celts believed that the number three was sacred and originally designed the trinity knot to signify the threes stages of pagan goddesses.  After their conversion from paganism, the trinity knot took on the symbolism of the holy trinity.  Today we attribute its meaning to the love that exists between god, man and woman or the three way tie with god, the holder of the ring and the giver of the ring.  What is sure though is that the trinity knot depicted their belief in everlasting love.

Modern Celts use rings to tell stories from ancient times gone by, the beauty of the trinity knot as an engagement ring for instance, has grown in popularity as more and more begin understanding its symbolism.

A very lovely and popular Celtic engagement ring is one that bears a knot design, and which speaks of love and commitment, and the eternal spiritual bond between husband and wife.  Today both grooms and brides don wedding bands and in ancient folk lore beliefs, once the ring was placed on the finger of a bride or groom, it must never be removed, even in death. 

Neo-pagans today attribute meaning the of trinity knot to the connectedness of land, sea and sky while the wiccans associate it with the triple goddess.  The ancient Celts are no longer around to shed light on the original meaning of the trinity knot, and we are left with modern meanings to guide us.  What is fact is that the trinity knot makes a beautiful gift of love for that special person in our life.