Irish Symbols

Some ideas to have about Symbols of Irish Identity

Every society is characterized with some symbols of their own. The symbols reflect the socio-cultural values attached with the society. Not only the socio-cultural values, but also the religious beliefs are also sometimes attached with them as well. A detail study of the symbols associated with a particular society gives us the idea of the society in a generalized manner. For this reason, the studies of these symbols are of very much importance, particularly to the historians, anthropologists, archeologists etc. Just like the other societies, Irish Symbols signify and reflect the Irish society to us. They have a number of symbols, which signify different meanings for different symbols. And while we study them, we can have the idea about the richness of cultural values associated with the Irish society. These symbols are popularly known as the Celtic symbols, and are quiet common in the territories of Ireland and Scotland.

In these symbols, the animals, nature, arts, all are included, and thus holds a very important place in the history of the world. The symbols reflect the human emotions as well, and the example of Claddagh Heart is worth mentioning in this regard. This heart symbol signifies love, loyalty, friendship. This heart symbol is found in the wedding rings, and the positioning of the heart symbol signifies the bonding of the concerned person with someone else.

Another example in the Irish symbols is the Celtic Cross and the Celtic Knot. Celtic cross is different from the conventional Crosses; it has a circle around the center of the cross. Different people signify Celtic Cross in a different manner. To some, the cross represents the eternal life by the circle, and the eventual surrendering to the god. Some other signifies the circle as the symbol of sun, the most important one for our living and the representative of God to us. The same feel for eternity symbolizes in the Celtic knots. Celtic knots are of different shapes, and each shape signifies different philosophy. The circular knot signifiers the eternal life, while the triangular shape signifies the three stages of life cycle, Birth, Death, and rebirth. Another kind of the Celtic Knot of interlaced type signifies the mutual dependence between humankind and nature.

Irish Symbols generally signify the human philosophy with the spiritual values. However, in some of the symbols, we find the animals, each of them signify different virtues. As for example, the Bulls represent the strength and passion, while the birds are symbolized as the communicator for the messages. There is dog to signify the bonding between humankind and the animals, while the snakes signify the creativity. Among the other symbols, Trees of Love signify the bonding between the humankind and heaven, connected by trees. This symbol also signifies the continuity of human life in a never-ending cycle. And just like the trees of Love, there is another tree that features in the symbols, called the Shamrock. The tree signifies Trinity in human life. Many people believe that this tree can keep the evil force away from our life.

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