Celtic cross

For Celtic Cross, the ambient/dub band see Celtic Cross (band)

A Celtic cross combines the cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. It is the characteristic symbol of Celtic Christianity, though it may have older, pre-Christian origins. Such crosses formed a major part of Celtic art.

Origins

In Celtic regions of Britain and Ireland many free-standing upright crosses – or high crosses – were erected, beginning at least as early as the 7th Century. Some of these 'Celtic' crosses bear inscriptions in runes. There are surviving free-standing crosses in Cornwall and Wales, in the island of Iona and in the Hebrides, as well as the many in Ireland. Other stone crosses are found in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders, however some of these are of the Anglo-Saxon cross making tradition. The most famous standing crosses are the Cross of Kells, County Meath, and the crosses at Monasterboice, County Louth.

There are numerous representation of crosses combined with a circle, even before christianity. Often called "sun cross", they can be found in pagan North-West Europe (the symbol became the mark of the Norse god Odin) or in Pyrenees and in Hiberica Peninsula. But there is no evidence of a link or a common origin with the Christian cross.

It should be noted that the Old English word for "cross" is "rood". The word "cross" in English derives only indirectly from Latin crux, crucis, passing through the intermediary of Old Norse kross. Linguistically it is striking that the pagan Norse raiders ("Vikings") should have impressed their word for "cross" on the Christianized Anglo-Saxons.

Political symbol

The cultural associations of the Celtic cross and the sun cross from which it's derived – with connotations of Christianity, Westernness, and old Aryan traditions – have since the 1960s encouraged the co-option of a stylized form as the emblem of several far-right groups, particularly in France, including the significantly-named Occident and the GUD.

In more recent decades the symbol has been adopted by the White Nationalist political movement as a symbol for representation of all European Caucasian peoples. When used this way, it is sometimes also called a "sun wheel". The symbol can also sometimes be identified with radical nationalists of a Third Positionist or Catholic nationalist persuasion.

This new symbolism has pretty much eclipsed the traditional one in France, Italy and many other European countries.

Celtic crosses are also associated with political groups advocating greater independence or other measures with respect to Celtic minorities (cf Breton nationalism).

Christian art Celtic art | Christian symbols | Cross symbols

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Origins

Political symbol