The history of the Celts is an interesting one. This group of people seemed to almost spring up out of nowhere during the late era of the Bronze Age. As a result, the arrival of the Celts is typically linked with the start of a new era – the Iron Age. Historically, the Celtic people became known for their iron work. In later years, they would continue to be known for this work but would also become famous for their other metal work (such as their unique Celtic jewelry pieces).

The Celts may have originally developed out of a culture called the Urnfield culture which was located in the Netherlands and northern Germany. This would have been late in the Bronze Age. From there, the Celts rapidly began to spread throughout the area. As they did, they eventually ended up in Ireland and Scotland as well as throughout other parts of this region.

The arrival of the Celts coincides nicely with the development of the Iron Age. The Celtic people had been introduced to iron around 1000 BC and had been developing ways of working with it ever since. By the time they arrived in the different regions of Europe towards 500 BC or later, the Celts were excellent iron workers. A majority of this iron work was for making weapons and tools of warfare. They were used by the Celts as they sought to spread their reach across multiple regions. Though it’s debatable just how violent they were in their domination of new areas, it is certainly true that they had to fight to take over new lands. The iron work in their weaponry surely aided with this takeover.

Later, however, the Celtic skills with ironwork would eventually be put to more decorative purposes. The same skills that were developed in working with iron were also used to create decorative pieces made out of other metals. Celtic jewelry eventually became quite popular. Celtic wedding rings and Celtic engagement rings were particularly popular pieces made by decorative jewelers after the era of total warfare had come to an end. Today, the Celtic people celebrate their history with art that still has its roots in the designs from the Iron Age.

admin Celtic Articles celtic engagement rings, celtic jewelry, celtic wedding rings

World Fleadh: Where Celtic Jewelry, Music and Culture Come Together

Anyone who is a fan of Irish and Celtic music will probably already know about World Fleadh. That is because this week-long summer music festival is the world’s leading festival for this type of music. Popular and emerging Irish and Celtic bands come together here to celebrate their heritage and their passion for playing great music. Like any great musical event, this is more than just a place where songs are played. It’s a place where a culture is celebrated. A glance around the grounds of this popular festival will reveal hints of Celtic heritage in everything from the Claddagh rings on so many fingers to the choice of traditional instruments by so many of the bands. World Fleadh is a place where a newcomer to this event can get a great introduction to the style, fashion and sound of the Irish / Celtic music scene.

There are many different types of Irish music, of course. World Fleadh places an emphasis on folk music (both traditional and original) as well as on country music. As you might expect, a lot of this music is lively. It’s the type of music that you want to sing along to and dance along with. The people who come to World Fleadh are eager to participate in these ways. They are also friendly people who are interested in getting to know their neighbors seated near them.

World Fleadh is certainly a place to hear this great music. However, it’s also a place where you can learn a lot about the culture behind the music. For example, there are workshops offered throughout the week at this event. You can learn to make Celtic jewelry (the most popular of which are those Claddagh rings), do traditional Irish folk dances or play a unique instrument. What you’re really learning here isn’t so much how to make Celtic jewelry or do a dance though. It’s really about learning the nature of the camaraderie and joie de vivre of the culture. What you’re learning is how the fashion, the music and the people all go hand-in-hand. World Fleadh is an event for the Irish music lover but people come away from this event with so much more than an appreciation for the music.

admin Celtic Articles celtic jewelry, claddagh rings

Many couples today opt to celebrate their weddings with some form of Celtic celebration. It is common to see couples exchange Celtic engagement rings or Celtic wedding rings. This is exciting to see since it means many are starting to truly recognize and honor their Celtic heritage. However, some don’t go any further than just wearing Celtic rings and this fact is a sad one. People who truly believe in the importance of their Celtic heritage will not only wear the jewelry associated with that heritage but will also learn about the legends and folklore that surround this culture.

Once you start reading about Celtic legends and folklore, you may find that you never want to stop learning about it. That is because the stories that are told through this culture are so powerful and moving. They hold messages and lessons that still apply to us today even though these stories were created hundreds of years ago. For people with a Celtic background, these stories can hold even more meaning than other popular legends such as those associated with Greek or Roman history.

There are many different types of stories associated with Celtic culture. Some of these stories are related to the gods and goddesses of Celtic myth. Others are simply related to the historical people that populate the Celtic past. Someone who is interested in Celtic folklore will find that there are stories for every occasion including those related to birth, death, warfare and other common experiences of human life.

And yes, of course, there are many different Celtic legends that relate to marriage. A couple who really wants to celebrate Celtic culture in their marriage may want to look to these legends before the wedding ceremony. It’s certainly terrific to exchange Celtic rings at your wedding but you can also incorporate other Celtic traditions into a wedding. For example, you could read one of these legends aloud before exchanging your vows. Doing so helps to solidify the message that you’re really trying to send when sharing your Celtic heritage with friends and family at this type of special event.

admin Celtic Wedding Articles celtic engagement rings, celtic rings, celtic wedding rings