You do not have to be particularly religious to have a cross design tattoo. However, many people do have spiritual beliefs and the cross often symbolizes those beliefs for them. Whilst many of us see the cross in only one way, it has actually been redesigned over the years and different beliefs use it in a different way. So, if your intention is to have a cross design tattoo for yourself, make sure that you learn a little more about them beforehand in order to get the right type of tattoo for you.

Non Christian Crosses

If you are looking for a non traditional, non Christian cross tattoo design, there are actually many to choose from. It all depends upon your beliefs or your own individual taste as to which ones you actually finally decide upon. Some of the most popular non-Christian crosses include:

The Greek Cross

This design in particular dates back quite a while. It is supposed to symbolize the sky and the God ‘Anu’ and it has also been linked as a sun worship symbol throughout the years.

The Tau Cross

Whilst this is widely used for non-Christian designs, it is still used in Christian designs too. The T shape in the design is used to symbolize the hammer of Thor and in some ancient Mayan inscriptions, there are people captured worshiping with a T-shaped cross and a bird perched on its horizontal arm. As well as that, this cross has also been used to represent the God ‘Tammuz’.

The Chinese Cross

Many people love the Chinese tattoo designs and the Chinese cross is certainly no different. The cross itself is associated with the Chinese ideogram for the word ‘earth’. Some Chinese people go by the old saying that ‘God fashioned the earth in the form of a cross’ and that is where their cross tattoo comes from. Many people who are not Chinese themselves, like the way that the Chinese think about this type of cross and that is what spurs them on to get one of their own.

Gothic Crosses

The Gothic cross has become more and more popular as time as gone on. There are many fans of the Gothic theme and Gothic crosses have fast caught up with Christian crosses as people like the way that they look. The cross itself is generally dark colored and it is designed in a Germanic style. They are associated with Anne Rice’s New Orleans tales.

Overall there are a large range of non-Christian crosses and the ones listed above are some of the most popular. So, if you are thinking of using a non-Christian cross as a tattoo design, ensure that you find out the true meanings behind them before rushing ahead and having one done regardless.

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Cross Tattoo Designs

Celtic history goes back thousands and thousands of years. Early Celtic people were well known for their skills in artwork of jewelry, metal, and even weapons. They were warriors as well, regarded as fierce fighters by the Romans. Throughout Ireland, there are many examples and evidence of Celtic artwork and Celtic crosses.

Over the years, modern Celtics evolved and established symbols for themselves along the way. Throughout North America, Celtic people often wear these symbols to let others know that they are a Celtic descent. The symbols and knowledge have been passed down through the years, as there is little no written history. Tattooing however, keeps the Celtic tradition alive with the infamous Celtic cross and other popular Celtic designs.

Most Celtic tattoo designs come from Ireland, where the evidence of Celtic history is very strong indeed. The Trinity College found in Dublin, Ireland, contains many manuscripts that document the Celtic heritage and symbols. The height of Celtic tattooing however, occurred during the era when stone and metal work was really popular.

Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also Celtic animal tattoo designs as well, which are similar in design to the knot tattoos, although the cords in the design normally terminate in heads, tails, and feet. The pure knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral.

The meaning behind the knots in Celtic tattoos defies any type of literal translation and is found at a much deeper level. The interlacing of the knots expresses the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements. The strands and their never ending path is a popular design for Celtic tattoos, representing life, faith, and love. For many years, Celtics have used these designs for emotional as well as heritage purposes.

Those who are from a Celtic descent, Irish, Scots, or Welsh, normally find a Celtic tattoo to be a great way to express their heritage pride. These tattoos help to reestablish pride, and give tribute to one’s ancestors. The tattoos aren’t easy to do, most taking several hours. Unlike other tattoo designs, Celtic tattoos are among the hardest designs in the world.

If you are from a Celtic descent and have decided to get a Celtic tattoo, the first thing to do is find an artist capable of doing the tattoo. The designs are very difficult and not all tattoo artists can do them. It’s always best to find a tattoo artist who has a background in Celtic designs, as this will ensure the tattoo is done correctly. The artist who does the tattoo needs to have an eye for detail and exact line placement – which is a skill that not all tattoo artists possess.

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Celtic Tattoo Designs