| On sale is a lovely pendant/necklace with a Celtic Cross
/St. Patrick's cross design, that is carved from genuine olivewood (see below
for information on olivewood.) It is approx. 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm. It comes with a
certificate of authenticity that it is from genuine olive wood from the Holy
Land.
What is a Celtic Cross / St. Patrick's Cross ?
The Celtic Cross is also known as a St. Patrick's Cross or a High Cross or an
Irish Cross. It is one of the best known Irish (or Celtic) symbols, found
throughout Ireland. A Celtic Cross is made up of a normal cross, with a ring
that travels completely around the cross intersection.
Although the Celtic cross is now closely associated with Christianity, it
appears that the Celtic Cross pre-dates Christianity, and its origins are based
in an older religion, perhaps even a pagan one. It is commonly thought that in
the 5th century, when St. Patrick converted the Irish to Christianity, he chose
a Celtic symbol that they were already familiar with, but added new meaning to
it, thereby making the transition easier and more acceptable. The legend goes
that St. Patrick combined the Christian cross with either the sun or the moon,
in an attempt to highlight the importance of the cross by combining it with an
existing Celtic symbol of life and eternity. However, it appears that this
style of Cross predates St. Patrick, and that Celtic cross designs were already
in existence even earlier than the 5th century when St. Patrick was living so
this does not explain their origin entirely.
Unlike the traditional Christian cross, the Celtic Cross does not focus so
heavily on the image of pain and suffering that a traditional cross invokes.
All types of Christians can use a Celtic cross, as well as other groups who
consider it "their" symbol too. In modern times, the Celtic Cross is
considered to be as much a symbol of ethnic heritage as it is of faith, and it
is often used as an emblem of Irish, Scottish or Welsh identity.
The Cross of St. Peter (officially known as the Petrine
Cross or colloquially Peter's Cross) is an inverted Latin cross. The origin of
this symbol comes from the Catholic tradition that St. Peter was crucified
upside down, as he felt he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner that
Christ died (upright). It is often used with two keys, symbolizing the keys of
heaven.
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''The wood from the Tree of Life, those who grasp it will experience eternal
Happiness...'' Proverbs 3:18
Environmentally friendly as they are made only from the prunings of ancient
olive trees growing in the Bethlehem region, the site of the nativity of Jesus
(Matt 2, Luke 2).
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