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O' The Morning To All,
Ce'ad
Mi'le Fa'ilte
100,000
Welcomes
There
are only 9 more shopping days until Christmas!
Yes, 9… I just cannot believe this year is almost over. We are almost to the major giving day in
most of the world. We are giving $1.00
of every order from now until Christmas Eve to the USO & Marine Corp Toys
for Tots program. Celtic Attic has
adopted 2 children from our local giving tree and will get them holiday gifts
as well.
We
are still running our Half Off Shipping special all the way until Christmas
(does not apply to express shipping requests).
We decided to leave our Black Friday/Cyber Monday special online until
Christmas Eve. We have 25 items that
you can get at a discount of 15% off the retail price, while supplies last. The coupon code is BlackFriday and you can
shop now. We have put all our Black
Friday/Cyber Monday specials on the shopping portal A
Celtic Calling. The sale is listed
on the front page.
We
have about 1200 products now on the A Celtic Calling.com shopping portal. We have about 300 more to add, so if you
don’t see what you’re looking for be sure to visit celtic attic.com. We will
have the websites completely remodeled by end of January for ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Shopping!
We
will be giving away a Christmas Treat Basket! (Gift Basket includes - 2 Holiday
coffee mugs, Irish or Scottish Tea, Irish Candy Treats bag and a Celtic Pendant!
Value $60.00) Enter Now! Anyone that enters now, will be put into the
Christmas Giveaway drawing... http://www.celticattic.com/contact_us/free_giveaway.htm
Most
of your Favorite Celtic Attic goodies are now in the new store location along
with a wide variety of other gifts and jewelry. We have balloon baskets, gift baskets and so much more! It is a Celtic & Gift Shop
Paradise. We have just launched our
line of Fairy Bath products in the store.
The store address is 408 Pacific Ave, Bremerton WA 98337. For those that would love to visit and get
your Celtic on, drop by Tues-Sat 11am-6PM.
Just a little bit of Irish
Most
Cultures can trace their paths back to a time when there were no computers,
automobiles or airplanes. The Celtic
peoples origins can be traced far back to antiquity. For the ancient Celts, grand tales were told by word of mouth
and passed from parent to child and to the clan. Imagine a vibrant bonfire of orange and yellow flames shooting
towards the night sky. Close your eyes
and see a clan of Irish Celts sharing tales of Giant Trolls chasing a wee Fairy
Princess through the wooded forest.
Envision now if you will a culture that did not write down a single word
of its most precious and prized tales.
Can you hear them speak? Listen
to the wind as it passes grand stories and adventures through the air. What of these people? Why did they not write down for future
generations their most prized tales and visions? Join me know as we explore an ancient way of communication from
the Celtic Lands. Come let us explore
the world of the Celtic Knot and what these strange and entrancing symbols
meant to the Celts and mean to us today.
Hurry the land of Shamrocks and Heather as it beckons you listen and
observe! Welcome to the Celtic Lands.
The
Celts have been around for quite some time.
There is much magic and mysticism associated with these people and with
the land of Erin, the Emerald Isle and all the British Isles indeed. Modern folk are attracted to the Celtic
Knotwork of these lands. Spirals, Key
Patterns, Interwoven Love Knots and Geometrically perfect symbols. What do all these symbols mean? Does each have a place in history? Did the Gods and Goddesses wear these
symbols? Did the mortals design them
out of reverence for their world and surroundings? Does the Spiraling knot shaped like hearts truly represent
“Love”? Ah to answer this question in a
mystical and enchanting way is quite the challenge on the part of Historians,
Secular & Religious folk alike.
Before the time of the Christian
influence on the Celts, the only known Celtic Knotwork consisted of simple
geometrical patterns. While they were
ornate, delicate and painstakingly crafted, I am sure; they did not represent
anything specific to the ancient Celts. They did not create the love knot to
express adoration of their spouse, nor did they create the peace knot in hopes
of ending the Roman occupation of the British Isles. The basic premise of life was simple for the Celts, all things
were revered and worshiped, but I do not believe and Historians have debated
this, that they created Knotwork as symbolism.
It is more likely they created it as a lovely way of adorning their
land, their person and their dwellings.
This early Knotwork did not feature plants, animals or humans. As most early Pre-Christian civilizations,
they might possibly have believed that making a representation of any living
thing was contrary to their belief of the interconnectedness of life. To form a symbol would be to take away the very
spirit of what they were trying to represent.
As
time marched on in the Celtic lands and Christianity and its teachings came to
the Emerald Isle and the other cultures, the Knotwork symbols were
re-born. Christian Celtic artwork was
strongly influenced by pagan Celtic sources. It is only in the artwork of the
post Pagan era that we see Knotwork representing a certain idea or aspect of
life. The Christian Celts added human, plant, and animal forms to their
glorious Knotwork designs. The most
famous example of this artwork form is the beautiful illuminated manuscripts –
The Book of Kells. Images of the ancient lands and of a people that were
steeped in magic and mysticism come to life in the Book of Kells and other
Knotwork manuscripts. The Crane, Raven and the Dog are gloriously depicted in
the Book of Kells. The Celtic cross,
which is now one of the best-known symbols of Irish Christianity, was
introduced in this post Pagan era.
Today
Celtic Knotwork symbols have been assigned attributes and meanings. This is a modern interpretation and
re-design of the ancient Knotwork patterns.
I will mention a few to entice your appetite to explore this symbolism
further. Keep in mind these are the
modern interpretations. The modern
Eternity Celtic knot symbolizes the never-ending eternal circle of life. The Shield Celtic knot is a symbol for
protection. The claddagh is a
traditional celtic symbol, the hands are for friendship, the heart is for love
and the crown is for loyalty and sometimes this symbol has Knotwork woven into
it. The Celtic Love Knot can enliven
relationships, heighten passions and attract true love. The Triscele was a sacred symbol to the
Celtic People. It represents the eternal rhythm of life that we are all a part
of. The traditional ancient Knotwork
Interlace pattern is probably the most common pattern. Basically it looks like
strands of braided strips that bend and weave amongst themselves. It could
possibly represent the interconnection of life and the universe. The Trinity
knot spirals are included in this grouping and may occur in double, triple or
quadruple swirls. Spirals are typically joined to one another in either an
"S" or a "C" type format. They may represent the universe,
heavens, and water or an individual's journey through life. I am sure as you explore the various
Knotwork patterns of both the ancient Celtic People and the modern Christian
art, you will see meanings within meanings.
After all, artwork is about inspiration and magic and vision. Open your vision to see the sacred Knotwork
of any ancient people still in use today. Copyright Kristin Olsen 2012
Irish
Potatoes Soup
Christmas Punch a la Shirley
1 can orange juice 1 quart
1 can pineapple juice 1 quart
1 can apricot nectar 1 ping
1-quart rye or bourbon
Combine above, let set in refrigerator. When ready to use add 1-quart club soda and ice.
As
Always, Peace
Kristin
and the staff at the Celtic Attic
408
Pacific Ave
Bremerton,
WA 98337
360-813-1113
360-531-1107
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