It may be hard to believe, but the traditions that gave birth to Celtic designs that many now consider trendy and fashionable date back to the 1st Century BC. Back then, the Celts were considered a dominant race in much of Europe, and contributed largely to the development of language, customs and religion in the Western World. When the Saxons invaded Britain, where Christianity had been well established by the 4th century AD, the Celtic people fled to Wales but carried with them a strong Christian tradition that is still evident in modern wedding bands.
In those days, much of ancient Celtic folklore and beliefs had already been integrated into the new Christian culture. One of the artistic products of such union was the "Celtic trinity knot" pattern in their wedding rings, where the three interwoven strands stood for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the knots also symbolized the idea of eternity in the minds of the Celts, because the patterns appeared to interlace endlessly. This not only suited but further reinforced their traditional belief that marriage is meant to last forever.
While the Celtic society continued to create art and architecture using long-established, ancient designs, the strong presence of Christian thoughts and ideas spawned a hybrid of Celtic and religious symbols. Eventually, few objects and patterns in Celtic culture remained untouched by Christianity, including the 17th Century Claddagh ring, which was designed by a love-struck fisherman for his wife in a now-famous fishing village.
Although the various design elements of the Claddagh ring traditionally symbolize friendship, love and fidelity, some artisans choose to include the Irish "hound of Cuchulainn" symbol. This icon is based on one of the legendary Irish heroes, whose hound once defended the people of Ireland, although the meaning has no particular significance. The ring is commonly worn on the left hand with the heart facing inwards, whereas lonely individuals are known to wear it on the right hand, facing the other way.
Nowadays, the Celtic wedding band is widely sought after, with many people believing that it is the sincerest physical embodiment of love and devotion. What few individuals realize is that every curve and stroke of this precious jewelry is imbued with meaning. For instance, each unbroken line is also a protective symbol, and the more lines a ring has, the greater the protection it affords the wearer against evil. Some designs like the triquetra, which is a three-pronged ring frequently observed in Celtic ceremonies, have a more obscure meaning. However, the knotwork which is present in all rings is a strong symbol of eternal love.
