Wales is one of the six Celtic nations that exist in modern times.
During ancient times, the Celts had special symbols they used to represent their culture and identity. These symbols were revered from those days forward and are still prevalent in modern Wales today.
For those who are interested in the famous symbols of the Celts, be sure to check their meaning.
Dragon doesn’t refer to a single kind of creature. Instead, the term encompasses an enormous number of both serpents and other species incorporating serpentine elements from a wide range of times as well as a wide range of cultures.
Celtic mythology
In Celtic culture the dragon was a gatekeeper to other worlds and guardian to the secrets and treasures of the universe. They were often depicted side by side with the Celtic gods. As creatures that protect the Earth and all living things, Celtic dragons are considered the most powerful of all the Celtic symbols.
They are used as a symbol of power and wisdom among leaders. Dragons are seen on many coat of arms and on the Welsh flag.
Y Ddraig Goch, the red dragon, on the Welsh flag was derived from the Great Red Serpent that had represented the Welsh god Dewi. King Arthur was one of the first leaders to use the red dragon. It was prominently shown on his helmet.
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Norse mythology
Meanwhile, another excellent example would be the monstrous Nidhogg, which chews upon the roots of the World Tree Yggdrasil in Norse mythology. Nidhogg is sometimes thought of as connected to death, and has commonly been presented in modern fiction as a servant of Hel (the goddess of the underworld).
Dragons can represent different concepts but they always associated with power and enormous strength, their symbolic meaning includes development, protection and wisdom.
Some examples of Celtic knots are very literal in the sense that they are actual knots created for decorative purposes. Other examples are representations of such knots in some other medium, having long since become an iconic element of Celtic art. Under such circumstances, people who want to invoke something about Celtic culture can do so in an instant by showing something bearing Celtic knots.
The Celtic Tree of Life is a well known symbol often seen on tapestries, and on other types of decorations. For the Ancient Celts, the Tree of Life was a symbol of balance and harmony. Trees in general were an integral part of the Celts culture and beliefs, with the Celtic Tree of Life holding great importance. As such, it is no wonder that apple trees became seen as symbols of fertility as well as immortal life, with a particularly example of this association being found in Arthuriana’s Avalon, which is a name that means “Isle of Apples.”
In Norse mythology it is called Yggdrasil and it is an eternal and sacred Ash tree with branches that stretch out to harbor nine worlds. It is has three roots and each one reaches to a different mysterious world. The first root is connected with Asgard, the ancient kingdom of the powerful Norse gods.
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The Celtic cross is one of the most significant to the Welsh culture and religious importance. Many theories abound for this symbol, though no one can confirm which is the right one. The most commonly believed one is that Saint Patrick made this symbol to convert the Druids.
Since the sun was of importance to these pagans, Saint Patrick combined the Christian cross along with the Celtic circle for eternity. Some even say that the Celtic cross predates Christianity.
One of the other popular theories is that this Welsh Celtic symbol came from the Sun Cross. It was believed that Taranis, the god of thunder who held a wheel in one hand a thunderbolt in his other, was the inspiration for this symbol. That wheel was used on Celtic coins back in the Bronze Age. Regardless of origin though, it may just be best to enjoy the Celtic cross as a symbol for faith which is what it is commonly used for today.
The Green Man is a very striking image, thus making it an excellent choice for ornamentation. Meaning-wise, it is seen as a symbol of rebirth, which is very much rooted in its connection with the cycle of seasons. However, there are those who see the Green Man as a representation of various nature deities because of its widespread nature.
For Gothic fantasy lovers, it might be interesting to note that the ancient Celtic religions placed a huge importance on human heads, so much so that some archaeologists have speculated about them being symbolic representations of the whole human being. If so, that is an association that still thrives in the present day, not least because we put such a strong emphasis on our minds being ourselves. Besides this, the symbolism of skulls is rich with other potential interpretations, with examples ranging from a reminder of the transience of earthly pleasures and pursuits to their use as a representation of the seeds of new life in Aztec mythology.
The memorial features the words "Cofiwch Dryweryn" which translates to "Remember Tryweryn" in English, urging people to remember the injustice done to the Welsh community.
