**At most Weddings in Ireland the presentation of a Bell is an important feature. Some believe it brings Good Luck into the marriage. But more importantly- when any new couple embarks on a relationship, there are bound to be differences of opinion and temperament, which can "cool" the temperature of the relationship. Now, the Irish are not especially know for losing a disagreement or a tiff, which may result in a standoff. To avoid the tragedy of sparks flying, to the rescue comes the ingenious Make Up Bell! Either party has the privilege of ringing the bell- calling the other back into the romance- without implying the responsibility on either side.
ANIMAL MOTIFS – ZOOMORPHIC An agricultural people, who lived in harmony with the land and the turning of the seasons, the Celts had a deep love for the natural world. This is aptly demonstrated throughout the ancient manuscripts, where vivid animal motifs abound. Some like the eagle and the lamb, are profoundly significant, while countless others emerge from the delicate harmony of knots and weaves in an exuberant celebration of the natural world.
BOOK OF KELLS The Book of Kells is the best known source of Celtic knots as well as other types of Celtic ornament. It is a fantastic collection of paintings that illuminate the four Gospels in Latin, penned circa 800 AD.
To a large extent, the great reputation which Celtic art and design have today is based on the exceptional quality of the images found in the Book of Kells. The incredible degree of ornament and detail caused Giraldus Cambrensis in the 13th century to call it: "the work not of men, but of angels."
To a large extent, the great reputation which Celtic art and design have today is based on the exceptional quality of the images found in the Book of Kells. The incredible degree of ornament and detail caused Giraldus Cambrensis in the 13th century to call it: "the work not of men, but of angels."
CELTIC CROSS The subtle merging of cultures which characterized the ancient Celtic Church is nowhere better represented than in the imagery of the Celtic Cross. Here the Sun Wheel; symbol of the eternal cycle of life, death and the rebirth is joined with the Christian Cross symbol of the risen Christ.
To this day, at dozens of monastic sites throughout these islands, these exquisitely carved monuments bare silent testimony to the deep faith and bold artistry of their creators.
In Ireland, it is a popular myth that the Celtic cross was introduced to the island by Saint Patrick during his time converting the pagan Irish. It is believed that he combined the symbol of Christianity, a cross, with the symbol of the sun, to give pagan followers an idea of the importance of the cross by linking it with the idea of the life-giving properties of the sun.
To this day, at dozens of monastic sites throughout these islands, these exquisitely carved monuments bare silent testimony to the deep faith and bold artistry of their creators.
In Ireland, it is a popular myth that the Celtic cross was introduced to the island by Saint Patrick during his time converting the pagan Irish. It is believed that he combined the symbol of Christianity, a cross, with the symbol of the sun, to give pagan followers an idea of the importance of the cross by linking it with the idea of the life-giving properties of the sun.
CELTIC OGHAM Ogham was a system of writing which used horizontal or slanting notches cut on stone or wood to indicate letters. Existing examples suggest that Ogham was used primarily on grave and boundary markers. Evidence exists however, to support its use by Druids for recording tales, histories, poetry, genealogies, and the like. In addition, each letter was named for a particular tree, and a vast lore of religious and mythological knowledge could be encoded in cryptic verse. The names of the main twenty letters are the names of 20 trees sacred to the druids.
There is no direct evidence that the Ogham alphabet was used [in antiquity] for divination or any other magical purposes. It has twenty letters, grouped into four 'aicme' of five letters each. A fifth Aicme (consisting of another five letters) was invented later to account for sounds in Latin that do not occur in Gaelic.
There is no direct evidence that the Ogham alphabet was used [in antiquity] for divination or any other magical purposes. It has twenty letters, grouped into four 'aicme' of five letters each. A fifth Aicme (consisting of another five letters) was invented later to account for sounds in Latin that do not occur in Gaelic.
CELTIC SPIRAL Perhaps the best-known of all Celtic motifs this triple spiral dates back to the 5,000 year old tomb complex at Newgrange. Thought originally to have symbolised the Eternal Cycle of Life, Death and Rebirth, in later times it came to represent the Great Goddess and her threefold manifestation of virgin, mother and crone. It was a much-favoured ornamental device used in the Christian Golden Age and remains a unique symbol of our Celtic Heritage.
HARP The Harp is the oldest official symbol of Ireland. Used on coins and all official documentation. Based on the ancient lyre, the Irish harp is one of the world's oldest instruments. The ancient Irish kings employed harpist to entertain them. At one sad point in Irish history conquering invaders made it illegal to posses an Irish harp and set out to burn every harp in Ireland in an attempt to kill the "Irish spirit". Greatly honored, the harp is the national emblem of Ireland.
ST BRIGID'S CROSS Legend: Tradition tells us that as she sat beside her dying father, Bridget was meditating and began weaving a cross, made from the river rushes. Her father saw the cross and asked her to explain its meaning. After Bridget explained the cross' significance he wanted to join the Church and was baptized by St. Patrick before he died. Today, people place a "St. Bridget's Cross" in their homes and farm buildings believing that, with their faith, it protects them and their animals from evil and deprivation.
In older Paganism Origin the Goddess Brigid was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her feast day was the feast of Imbolc, and the cross made of rushes today is very likely the descendant of a pagan symbol whose original meaning may have been locally understood even into the early 20th century in rural Ireland. One remnant of that tradition in the meaning of the Brigid's Cross today, is that it is said to protect a house from fire. This does not fit with any part of the Christian story of St. Brigid, and so is likely a part of the older polytheistic tradition behind the feast day. Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is held on 1st of February, or about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
In older Paganism Origin the Goddess Brigid was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her feast day was the feast of Imbolc, and the cross made of rushes today is very likely the descendant of a pagan symbol whose original meaning may have been locally understood even into the early 20th century in rural Ireland. One remnant of that tradition in the meaning of the Brigid's Cross today, is that it is said to protect a house from fire. This does not fit with any part of the Christian story of St. Brigid, and so is likely a part of the older polytheistic tradition behind the feast day. Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is held on 1st of February, or about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
CLAN ARAN SWEATER: The Aran Sweater takes its name from the set of islands where it originated many generations ago, off the West coast of Ireland. The Aran Islands lie at the mouth of Galway Bay, at the mercy of the relentless Atlantic Sea. From its origins, the Aran sweater has been intimately linked to clans and their identities. The many combinations of stitches seen on the garment are not incidental, far from it. They can impart vast amounts of information to those who know how to interpret them. Aran sweaters were, and remain, a reflection of the lives of the knitters, and their families. On the Aran islands, sweater patterns were zealously guarded, kept within the same clan throughout generations. These Aran sweaters were often used to help identify bodies of fishermen washed up on the beach following an accident at sea.
An Aran sweater kept the wearer warm on the cold days and nights at sea or on the farm. Wool has an excellent insulating capacity due to the high volume of air in it, and this helps protect the wearer from excessive cold and heat. Many of the stitches used in the Aran Sweater are reflective of Celtic Art, and comparisons have been drawn between the stitches and patterns found at Neolithic burial sites such as Newgrange in Co. Meath.
The lack of skilled knitters, and the economic gains to be had from machine-production of the sweaters, has resulted in a huge fall in the number of hand-knits available. Hand knit Aran Sweaters have become rare and valuable. The Aran Sweater remains an item of timeless beauty, synonymous with pride in an Irish heritage.
An Aran sweater kept the wearer warm on the cold days and nights at sea or on the farm. Wool has an excellent insulating capacity due to the high volume of air in it, and this helps protect the wearer from excessive cold and heat. Many of the stitches used in the Aran Sweater are reflective of Celtic Art, and comparisons have been drawn between the stitches and patterns found at Neolithic burial sites such as Newgrange in Co. Meath.
The lack of skilled knitters, and the economic gains to be had from machine-production of the sweaters, has resulted in a huge fall in the number of hand-knits available. Hand knit Aran Sweaters have become rare and valuable. The Aran Sweater remains an item of timeless beauty, synonymous with pride in an Irish heritage.
The story of the Ghillie Brogues stretches back through Scottish history.
A ghillie – if you should live outside Scotland – is the man or boy who was the Highland chief’s attendant. In later times it referred to somebody who would accompany others on hunting and fishing trips. Being a ghillie was an honourable profession but a hard one. It was the ghillie’s lot to carry the guns, the rods – and on occasion their owners.
And they walked. Through the bogs and rivers and bracken and heather, scaling the highlands or scrambling the lowlands, they walked. If the walking was hard on the man it was hell on his footwear. So came the ghillie brogue. The ghillie brogue started out as a shoe that would drain water and dry quickly. In the original ghillie brogue, the laces were above the ankle so the shoes wouldn’t get stuck in the mud. Each shoe had a patterned network of fine holes punched in the leather, known as brogueing. This was no designer’s frippery, Far from it. Simply, it was to help the water drain.
A ghillie – if you should live outside Scotland – is the man or boy who was the Highland chief’s attendant. In later times it referred to somebody who would accompany others on hunting and fishing trips. Being a ghillie was an honourable profession but a hard one. It was the ghillie’s lot to carry the guns, the rods – and on occasion their owners.
And they walked. Through the bogs and rivers and bracken and heather, scaling the highlands or scrambling the lowlands, they walked. If the walking was hard on the man it was hell on his footwear. So came the ghillie brogue. The ghillie brogue started out as a shoe that would drain water and dry quickly. In the original ghillie brogue, the laces were above the ankle so the shoes wouldn’t get stuck in the mud. Each shoe had a patterned network of fine holes punched in the leather, known as brogueing. This was no designer’s frippery, Far from it. Simply, it was to help the water drain.
ST. Patrick is the primary Patron Saint of Ireland. His life began in Wales; where he was Born in Roman Britain. He was to be captured at age 16 and taken as a slave shepherd to Ireland where he lived for six years; while strengthening his relationship with God through prayer eventually leading him to convert to Christianity (whilst in the meadows with his sheep that he came up with the clever analogy between the three leaves of the shamrock and the Holy Trinity. At any rate, this lesson is one explanation for why St. Patrick is associated with a shamrock.) before escaping and returning back to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland. Armed with only courage and conviction, Patrick’s unwavering belief that good conquers evil would liberate Ireland and alter the course of history. There are a few legends associated with ST. Patrick.
Saint Patrick's Day is observed on 17 March, the date of his death. It is celebrated inside and outside Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday. In the dioceses of Ireland, it is both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation; it is also a celebration of Ireland itself. Did you know that the colour "Blue" was originally associated with ST. Patrick?!!!
Saint Patrick's Day is observed on 17 March, the date of his death. It is celebrated inside and outside Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday. In the dioceses of Ireland, it is both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation; it is also a celebration of Ireland itself. Did you know that the colour "Blue" was originally associated with ST. Patrick?!!!
THE VIKING WARRIORS - The Old Norse feminine noun víking refers to an expedition overseas. The Scandinavian influences on the Celtic Nations began in The Viking Age; the period from 793 AD to 1066 AD. It is the period of history when Scandinavian Norsemen explored Europe by its seas and rivers for trade, raids and conquest. It is unknown exactly what triggered the Norse expansion and conquests. There are a few probable causes laid unto them which contributed to these Warriors actions: Religion, Land & Betrayal!
Religion- Viking attacks may have been in response to the spread of Christianity among Pagan people. Because of the penetration of Christianity in Scandinavia, serious conflict divided Norway for almost a century. When first encountered by their neighbours the Vikings were pagans. The Vikings had no word for religion and do not seem to have had a structured belief system similar to Christianity or Islam. Their spiritual beliefs instead placed a great emphasis on interaction with the natural world, and with supernatural powers – gods, spirits or other creatures. There was a widespread belief in shape-shifting (the ability of humans to take on animal forms).
Betrayal- With the means of travel (longships and open water), their desire for goods led Scandinavian traders to explore and develop extensive trading partnerships in new territories. It has been suggested that the Scandinavians suffered from unequal trade practices imposed by Christian advocates and that this eventually led to the breakdown in trade relations and raiding.
Land - Scandinavian population was too large for the peninsula and there was not enough good farmland for everyone. This led to a hunt for more land. Particularly for the settlement and conquest period that followed the early raids, internal strife in Scandinavia resulted in the progressive centralisation of power into fewer hands.
There have been several archaeological finds including that of Viking ships of all sizes, providing knowledge of the craftsmanship that went into building them. However, it was the longship, that allowed the Norse to go viking, which might explain why this type of ship has become almost synonymous with the concept of Vikings. Vikings from Norway and Denmark colonized the Shetlands and Orkneys, the Isle of Man and conquered three of Englands' four kingdoms. They made Ireland a trading base and controlled many ports along the coast. They didn't conquer the Celtic land but rather became allies allowing the two cultures to mix and cooperate. The longer the Viking Age passed the more integrated these two cultures became.
Norse society was based on agriculture and trade with other peoples and placed great emphasis on the concept of honour, both in combat and in the criminal justice system. It was, for example, unfair and wrong to attack an enemy already in a fight with another.
The legacy of the Vikings can be seen throughout the Gaelic world. What we call the Viking Age lasted from about 800 to 1050, a span of 250 years. Findings of scripture, runic stones, bloodline connections and structures remind todays' Celtic Nations of the profound connection the Viking Warriors defined their nations throughout time thereafter & onward!
At JORVIK Viking Centre you are standing on the site of one of the most famous and astounding discoveries of modern archaeology. The Coppergate excavation have given us unmatched detail about how the Viking people lived their lives in the Viking-age city of Jorvik.
The world famous JORVIK Viking Centre is a ‘must-see’ for visitors to the city of York and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK. Please visit the Jorvik Viking Centre which details so much of the way of the Viking Warrior.
Religion- Viking attacks may have been in response to the spread of Christianity among Pagan people. Because of the penetration of Christianity in Scandinavia, serious conflict divided Norway for almost a century. When first encountered by their neighbours the Vikings were pagans. The Vikings had no word for religion and do not seem to have had a structured belief system similar to Christianity or Islam. Their spiritual beliefs instead placed a great emphasis on interaction with the natural world, and with supernatural powers – gods, spirits or other creatures. There was a widespread belief in shape-shifting (the ability of humans to take on animal forms).
Betrayal- With the means of travel (longships and open water), their desire for goods led Scandinavian traders to explore and develop extensive trading partnerships in new territories. It has been suggested that the Scandinavians suffered from unequal trade practices imposed by Christian advocates and that this eventually led to the breakdown in trade relations and raiding.
Land - Scandinavian population was too large for the peninsula and there was not enough good farmland for everyone. This led to a hunt for more land. Particularly for the settlement and conquest period that followed the early raids, internal strife in Scandinavia resulted in the progressive centralisation of power into fewer hands.
There have been several archaeological finds including that of Viking ships of all sizes, providing knowledge of the craftsmanship that went into building them. However, it was the longship, that allowed the Norse to go viking, which might explain why this type of ship has become almost synonymous with the concept of Vikings. Vikings from Norway and Denmark colonized the Shetlands and Orkneys, the Isle of Man and conquered three of Englands' four kingdoms. They made Ireland a trading base and controlled many ports along the coast. They didn't conquer the Celtic land but rather became allies allowing the two cultures to mix and cooperate. The longer the Viking Age passed the more integrated these two cultures became.
Norse society was based on agriculture and trade with other peoples and placed great emphasis on the concept of honour, both in combat and in the criminal justice system. It was, for example, unfair and wrong to attack an enemy already in a fight with another.
The legacy of the Vikings can be seen throughout the Gaelic world. What we call the Viking Age lasted from about 800 to 1050, a span of 250 years. Findings of scripture, runic stones, bloodline connections and structures remind todays' Celtic Nations of the profound connection the Viking Warriors defined their nations throughout time thereafter & onward!
At JORVIK Viking Centre you are standing on the site of one of the most famous and astounding discoveries of modern archaeology. The Coppergate excavation have given us unmatched detail about how the Viking people lived their lives in the Viking-age city of Jorvik.
The world famous JORVIK Viking Centre is a ‘must-see’ for visitors to the city of York and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK. Please visit the Jorvik Viking Centre which details so much of the way of the Viking Warrior.
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