| The History of Symbolism, Legend &
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| | the change of seasons, love and human
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| Lore
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| | spirit. Celtic jewelry is often embedded
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| History of Claddagh Jewelry
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| | with many symbols that have been passed
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| Claddagh jewelry is modeled after the
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| | down from as early as the 8th century
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| claddagh ring, which first surfaced in
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| | B.C.
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| Ireland more than 400 years ago. The
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| | Each of the symbols used in celtic
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| claddagh ring has a rich history; if you
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| | jewelry have different meanings. Some
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| aren't familiar already, the claddagh
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| | were created by artisans, whereas others
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| ring is shaped to resemble two hands
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| | were created by tribal members.
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| grasping a heart with a crown on top.
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| | Knotwork Designs
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| Legend & lore has several
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| | Celtic knotwork designs are perhaps the
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| explanations for the creation of this
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| | most well known celtic symbols; crafted
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| unique and popular pattern.
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| | by artisans these designs are woven into
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| One legend is that a man named Richard
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| | rings, bracelets, earrings, pendants and
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| Joyce while on a voyage to the
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| | wedding bands. Symbols may reflect power
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| Mediterranean was captured by Armenian
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| | and unity, and more commonly spiritual
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| pirates, and spend years in captivity as
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| | belief and kinship among people and
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| a result. While held captive he learned
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| | eternity.
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| the skills necessary to become an
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| | Other common designs crafted by Celtic
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| artificer of precious metals. Joyce
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| | craftsmen included:
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| eventually was returned to his homeland,
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| | - Triskeles - The Triskele represented
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| despite protests from his owner, who had
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| | the importance of the number three, which
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| wished he would marry his daughter. Joyce
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| | symbolized the Threefold Sister Goddess
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| pursued a career in crafting gold and
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| | worshiped by the Druids.
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| silver jewelry.
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| | - Spirals - This symbol was often found
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| Many myths abound as to how Joyce came up
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| | on Dolmans and gravesites; the true
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| with the symbolism he used in his
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| | meaning of the symbol isn't quite known
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| claddagh jewelry, but the true origins
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| | though many believe it represents the
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| are not known.
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| | outer soul or higher spirit forms, the
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| Yet another legend follows a similar
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| | idea of growth and expansion and higher
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| story; it tells the tale of Richard, a
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| | energy. A double spiral represents
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| young man who was kidnapped by Spanish
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| | equinoxes.
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| pirates one day while fishing with other
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| | - Animal Motifs - Animal motifs represent
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| men in his family. Richard and his family
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| | a variety of different traditions; Birds
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| were sold into slavery off the North
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| | were thought to represent death
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| Coast of Africa. Just before being
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| | transitions; Boars symbolized masculine
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| captured Richard had met his true love,
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| | power; Bulls represent virility and
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| and lived in fear that he would never see
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| | wealth; Cats represented guardians;
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| her again. Richard longed for his
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| | Cranes suggested punishment or deception;
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| beloved, and each day to remember her he
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| | Deer represented profound changes in
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| stole a minute amount of gold from the
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| | life; Dragons represent magic and power;
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| slave masters shop where he worked. After
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| | Eagles were linked to God; Serpents the
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| years had passed he was able to create a
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| | cycle of life, particularly when it shed
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| ring with the gold he gathered. Richard's
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| | its skin.
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| hope was that one day, if freed, he could
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| | - Crosses - The cross evolved in the
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| present the day to his love. One day
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| | British Isles, with the earliest form
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| Richard was able to return to Ireland,
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| | dating from the 9th century. Legend has
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| and found his beloved awaiting him. He
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| | it that St. Patrick created the first
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| offered her the claddagh ring for her
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| | Celtic cross by drawing a circle over a
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| devotion and patience.
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| | traditional Latin cross. The circle is
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| The second story regarding the origin of
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| | thought to represent eternity and God's
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| this style ring and other claddagh
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| | love which is endless. The four arms of
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| jewelry is much more highly regarded,
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| | the cross have been used by other
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| because among other things claddagh
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| | cultures to denote the four elements and
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| jewelry has come to symbolize love and
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| | the four parts of man (mind, body, soul
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| devotion.
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| | and heart).
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| Claddagh jewelry has become very popular
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| | - Chevrons - These symbols, resembling
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| in Ireland over the centuries, and many
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| | arrowheads linked together, represent
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| of the pieces fashioned after this style
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| | power.
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| are often kept as heirlooms among family
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| | The oldest and most recognized of these
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| members. At the time of Joyce there was a
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| | symbols is the single spiral. Growth,
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| Claddagh village, which remained as a
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| | expansion, cosmic energy, all of these
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| self contained community until about 70
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| | ideas could be represented by the single
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| years ago. Jewelry fashioned in the
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| | spiral. The tightly wound symbol has been
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| claddagh style is considered part of
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| | used by many other cultures since the
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| Irish legend & lore, and remains an
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| | time of the Celts. Many believe a spiral
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| important part of Irish history. Today
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| | spinning in a counter clockwise direction
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| claddagh jewelry is worn as a symbol of
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| | is representative of the larger summer
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| Irish heritage, friendship, unity and
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| | sun.
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| love among people in all cultures.
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| | Celtic knots are considered the most
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| Tradition has it that if a claddagh ring
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| | ornamental pattern associated with the
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| is worn on the right hand, with the crown
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| | Celtic people. Celtic knotwork patterns
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| turned inward the wearer is still
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| | were discovered all over Ireland in early
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| searching for love; if the crown is worn
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| | settlements and at burial grounds. The
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| facing outward love is in the air. For
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| | idea that life is never ending, and that
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| those that wear the ring on the left of
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| | people are re-born at death is
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| course, a person is said to be spoken
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| | incorporated into the idea of loops or
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| for.
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| | knots with no beginning and no end. One
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| Celtic Jewelry Traditions
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| | of the more well known celtic knots is
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| Celtic jewelry, like claddagh jewelry is
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| | the Trinity Knot, which is actually a
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| rich in history and tradition. The term
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| | combination of Celtic and spiritual
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| "Celtic" typically refers to people who
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| | heritage.
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| are descendants of different provinces of
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| | Whether purchasing claddagh jewelry or
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| western Europe, who lived during the time
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| | celitc jewelry, you can be assured that
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| around the birth of Christ. Most Celtic
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| | you are investing in gems that are rich
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| history, legend & lore have been
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| | in symbolism and tradition. Celtic and
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| passed down from generation to generation
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| | claddagh jewelry have been around for
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| via word of mouth, or through artwork and
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| | centuries, and will continue to be
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| symbolism. Much celtic jewelry displays
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| | popular in many cultures and regions of
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| symbolism that represents life, death,
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| | the world.
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