Irish Love Symbols

In Ireland there were many symbols associated with many different things, these symbols came into being when the Celts were in their prime.

The Celts made many symbols to symbolize all sorts of things including love.

There were not many symbols for love in celtic times, however we did find a few symbols that came from Ireland that do symbolize love.

Here they are.

Claddagh Heart

The Claddagh ring is an ancient Irish love symbol. This traditional Irish ring is given as a token of friendship, love, or marriage.

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

When worn on the right ring finger with the heart pointing to the fingertip, the wearer is free of any attachment.

On the same finger but the other way round, with the heart pointing away from the fingertip, it suggests someone is romantically involved.

When the ring is on the left hand wedding ring finger, it means the person is married or engaged.

This Irish love symbol became famous as a symbol of remembering the ties of the past. When countless waves of Irish people left the shores of Ireland from the harbor in Cork to escape the Great Potato famines of the 19th century, they carried with them the claddagh ring as a link to Irish shores.

Their long voyage across the Atlantic to North America severed many ties to Ireland and the symbol of love reminded them of their country and kinsmen left behind.

The Swan

The Swan was revered by the early Irish Celts who associated them with the sun, bearers of the chariot of the sun god.

Many Celtic legends involve magical maidens who transform into swans, you can identify them through the magical chains of precious metal they wear.

Probably the most famous Celtic swan-tale is of the children of Lir , the Irish sea-god, whose children are magically transformed into swans by their jealous stepmother.

Many Celtic goddesses could also shapeshift into swan form, the swan was the sacred bird of Angus, the Irish god of love.

Irish Love Knot Symbol

There are several types of irish love knots, many of them symbolize love, eternity, and continuum.

The interlacing lines of the Irish Knot stands for "no beginning, no ending, the continuity of everlasting love and binding together or intertwining of two souls or spirits."

Heart knots were added recently to Irish symbolism. Hearts now known as symbols of love date back to the later medieval period but they have become an established part of Irish lore in the last decade of the 20th century.

There is also the lover's celtic knot, any knot can be a lover's knot. Knots that link two separate paths are used as lover's knots