Celtic history dates back thousands of years, and the culture is one rich in design. The celtic people have always been recognised for their strong skills in various art forms, including jewelry design, weaponry and metal, and today their symbolic tattoo artwork in particular is still popular on a wide scale.

Symbols, in particular, are a strong form of representation to the celtic culture. Since there is little written history or elaboration on this unique culture, the celtic symbols serve as visual representations of their history and traditions. These symbols are recognised widely, particularly across North America, and people sporting the symbols often use them as a point of reference or identification.

More recently, tattoos have become a poplar form of celtic representation, and many descendants of the culture have chosen to express their heritage in this way. Dublin, Ireland is home to much of the original celtic documentation, and the celtic tattooing trend emerged at a time where materials like metal and stone were particularly predominant.

Apart from the common celtic crosses, celtic knots are also a popular design for tattoos. This common symbol consists of recurring loops that meet in circles to form a never-ending chain. This loop is symbolic of the never-ending process of life and death. The loop consists of two intertwining strands, where one represents the physical being and the other the spiritual entity. The design in its entirety is a representation of faith, life and love. Whilst this symbol holds enough power to be used independently of its traditional roots, the Irish, Scottish and Welsh descendant of celtic roots often take pride in expressing their heritage through these tattoos.

Once you have decided to go ahead with your tattoo, placing is an important issue to consider. Since the design should complete itself in a circle, wrapping the design around your ankle, thigh, arm, or even finger is often a popular choice for placement. If it is the celtic cross you are more interested in, though, you won’t have any serious issues when it comes to placing it.

The intricacy of the typical celtic design means you will need to find an experienced tattoo artist to administer it. The repetitive pattern of the celtic looping means that the dimensions of your tattoo will need to be exact, or the proportion and overall effect will be distorted. An artist who is experienced in celtic design would help you guarantee a successful result, so be sure in their capabilities before going ahead with your design.