A Celtic cross

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.

Origins

In Celtic regions of Britain and Ireland many free-standing upright crosses (see 'High cross') were erected, beginning at least as early as the 8th 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. One candidate for the oldest survivor outside Ireland is the standing cross at Bewcastle, Cumberland, England, one of a small isolated group of crosses in that area. The most famous standing crosses are the Cross of Kells, County Meath, and the crosses at Monasterboice, County Louth.

The Neolithic symbol combining circle and cross is the simplest conceivable representation of the union of opposed polarities in the western world. Crossed circles scratched on stones have been recovered from Paleolithic caves sites in the Pyrenees. At the most famous megalithic site in Scotland, Callanish, crossing avenues of standing stones extend from a circle. Scratched into stone or painted on pottery, as on Samarra ware, the crossed-circle symbol appears from the Pyrinees in Old Europe, throughout Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the Iranian plateau to the cities of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa in the Indus River valley. It may be compared to the yin-yang symbol of the eastern world.

In pagan Europe, the crossed circle became the mark of the Norse god Odin. Though other explanations of the Christian combination of circle and cross have been made, it should be noted that the "Celtic" cross is rare outside the former extent of Odin's cult.

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 'krosse' (modern 'kors'). Linguistically it is striking that the pagan Norse raiders ('Vikings') should have impressed their word for 'cross' on the christianized Anglo-Saxons.

Political symbol

drawing of a nationalistic stylicized Celtic cross

The cultural associations of the Celtic cross, with connotations of christianity, 'westernness', and old traditions, have since the 1960s encouraged the co-option of a stylicized form as the emblem of several far-right groups, particularly in France, including the significantly-named Occident and the GUD. This new symbolism has pretty much eclipsed the traditional one in France and many other European countries, including Greece (which has no Celtic minority). The majority of Irish people strongly object to this use and association.

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