10 Fascinating Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings

Ancient Celtic symbols have been around for centuries. While many have pagan origins, they were later incorporated into Christian culture and religion and today can be seen across many places such as graveyards, churches, and ancient monuments.

Below, you’ll find the most popular Celtic symbols and meanings.

1.Celtic Cross

The Celtic Cross predates Christianity and is believed to be a symbolic compass. It represents the four cardinal directions of Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. It also represents mind, body, soul and heart.

Typically, the Celtic Cross is comprised of a Latin cross with a nimbus surrounding the intersection of the arms and stem. Legend says that the Celtic Cross was introduced to Ireland by either St Patrick or St Declan and that the circle was used to denote the sun to pagans.

The Celtic Cross, as a symbol, represents knowledge, strength and compassion, while the central ring represents infinite love (God’s endless love) or as a depiction of the halo of Christ.

2. The Celtic Tree of Life

The intricately interwoven branches and roots of the Celtic Tree of Life form a solid and earthy Celtic symbol often associated with the Druids.

While the branches reach for the sky, the roots permeate the earth. For the ancient Celts, the Tree of Life symbolizes balance and harmony. Spin this symmetric Celtic symbol 180 degrees and its appearance remain the same.

Known in Irish as ‘Crann Bethadh’, this Celtic symbol represents the belief in the close association between heaven and earth.

The Celts believed that the trees were the spirits of their ancestors, providing a link between their earthly life and the next.

3. The Dara Knot

Another of the better-known Celtic symbols is the Dara Celtic Knot. This symbol boasts an interwoven design and a name from the Irish word ‘Doire’, which means “oak tree.”

The Dara Knot is derived from this word and the symbol represents the root system of an ancient oak. Like other Celtic knot symbols, the Dara Knot comprises intertwined lines with no beginning or end.

There is no single design for the Dara Celtic Knot, but all versions are centred on the common theme of the oak tree and its roots.

Celts and Druids revered nature, particularly ancient oak trees, and considered them sacred. They saw the oak tree as a symbol of strength, power, wisdom, and endurance.

4. The Ailm

There are two traditional Irish Celtic symbols for strength – the Dara Knot (above) and the Ailm. The symbols differ significantly in design, but their meanings are similar.

The Celtic Ailm symbol is derived from the first letter of the Celtic Ogham alphabet. Ogham was a primitive form of written communication in Celtic history and the Ogham was initially a group of trees that were thought to dispense knowledge and wisdom.

The Ailm is thought to be a type of conifer or silver fir tree. In ancient Celtic tree lore, evergreen fir trees were associated with healing a person’s inner soul.

5. The Triquetra / Trinity Knot

There is no definitive Celtic symbol for family, but several ancient Celtic knots represent the meanings of eternal love, strength, and family unity.

The Triquetra is thought to be the oldest symbol of spirituality. It is depicted in the 9th century Book of Kells and appears in Norwegian stave churches from the 11th century.

The elaborate Triquetra, also known as the Trinity Knot or Celtic Triangle, is one of the most beautiful Celtic symbols, and it shows a circle interwoven with a continuous three-pointed symbol.

6. The Triskelion

Also known as the Triskele, the Triskelion is another of the ancient Irish Celtic symbols thought to have been around during Neolithic times (that’s about 3,200 years BC!).

This spiral symbol once again reflects the Celtic belief that everything necessary comes in threes.

The Triskelion has three clockwise spirals connecting from a central hub, a little like the Manx three-legged symbol. The Greek word Triskele means three-legged.

Also known as the triple spiral, the Triskelion has rotational symmetry and is very common in Celtic art and architecture.

7. The Irish Harp

The first of the non-Celtic symbols in this guide is the Harp. The Irish Harp is the national emblem of Ireland and is still widely used today.

Look for it on Irish Euro coins and the label of every can and bottle of Guinness. The meaning of the Irish harp symbol embodies the spirit and essence of the Irish people and is said to represent the soul's immortality.

It was so revered that the British banned all harps (and harpists!) in the 16th century to break the symbolic tie.

8. The Shamrock

The Shamrock is another of the many Irish symbols that tends to be mistaken for one of the ancient Celtic symbols.

This tiny bright green three-leafed plant grows all over Ireland and beyond, and it thrives in cool, damp climates.

If you find a clover with four separate leaves, it’s said to be lucky. It is the national flower of Ireland and its symbolism is deeply rooted in the past.

The Shamrock is believed to have been a vital Druid symbol. Druids are said to have felt that the three heart-shaped leaves represented the triad.

According to legend, St Patrick used the trefoil leaves to explain the unity of the Holy Trinity – three parts yet one whole – to the pagans during his Christian teachings.

9 . Serch Bythol

Although less well-known than some other Celtic symbols, the Serch Bythol is significant. It also shows the early Celts were deeply in touch with their emotions and relationships.

The Serch Bythol symbol is made from two Celtic knots / triskeles to symbolize the everlasting love between two people.

The two defined yet closely intertwined parts represent two people forever in body, mind, and spirit.

10. The Celtic Motherhood Knot

Celtic knots, called Icovellavna, include many knots used for decoration in the Celtic style of Insular art.

The elaborate Celtic Motherhood Knot symbolizes the bond between mother and child or Christianity, the Madonna and Child.

The meaning of the Celtic Motherhood Knot is one of enduring love between a mother and child, faith in God and the Celtic heritage.