The Irish Claddagh ring is one of the uniquely designed rings whose design dates back to 1700 in the Irish village of Claddagh, which is part of the modern-day city of Calway.
The ring boasts an interesting history, and though there are different versions of the story of how the Claddagh ring came to be, the ring’s unique design is what makes the ring stand out.
The Claddagh ring’s origins are in Ireland, and it was designed as an ornate symbol of love, friendship, and loyalty.
The ring features two hands clasped together, holding a heart, as a symbol of love. The ring also features a crown at the top, which represents loyalty.
You may not know this, but the clasped ring design is from the Roman Era, and it was created to symbolize pledging vows to each other. So, in Renaissance Europe, the Claddagh rings were used as wedding or engagement rings.
This ring design was developed from an older ring called the fede rings, representing loyalty and faith.
Over the years, the Claddagh ring became a famous rind style in Ireland and soon became synonymous with the Celtic ring design.
However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the ring design received global exposure, and most people wore it as a statement ring.
Now that we have the basics out of the way let’s look at some of the myths and traditions associated with the Claddagh rings.
Is buying yourself a Claddagh ring bad luck, if you aren’t Irish?
The Claddagh ring doesn’t bring the wearer bad luck, and buying the Claddagh ring for yourself doesn’t bring you luck.
Anyone can buy the Claddagh ring, and if you are vacationing or traveling around Ireland and intend to buy a Claddagh ring, you should consider buying yourself a Claddagh ring.
Regardless of who you are, buying yourself the Claddagh ring is the best possible demonstration of your pride and also a way of appreciating the Irish heritage.
Can a single person wear a Claddagh ring?
Yes, you could wear the Claddagh ring even if are still single. Claddagh rings fit comfortably, and you will be happy to know that you don’t have to wear the ring facing any direction.
The direction of the ring doesn’t point to your relationship status; you can wear the ring on your left-hand ring finger, regardless of your relationship status. You will be happy to know that you can wear the Claddagh ring on any finger.
That said, if you believe in the traditional symbolism of the ring or are from Ireland, the Claddagh ring may have to be worn in a certain way.
And if you are single, you’ll need to wear the ring on your right hand, with the heart shape facing out and away from your body. But if you are in a relationship, you could wear the ring with the heart facing inwards.
Can you give a Claddagh ring to a friend?
The Claddagh ring symbolizes friendship, loyalty, and love, and this makes this ring style the very best ring to gift a friend or anyone else you love.
Besides friends, you could also give the Claddagh ring to your family members as a show of love. The hands, crown, and heart represent friendship, loyalty, and love, respectively, so it is the perfect gift for any of your loved ones.
What does it mean when someone gives you a Claddagh ring?
When someone gives you the Claddagh ring, it means that they love and appreciate you. It could also means that they are giving it to you as a symbol of friendship, love, and loyalty.
You wouldn’t have to be Irish to give or to be given the Claddagh ring. Receiving a Claddagh ring represents a token of your enduring relationship, whether romantic or platonic.
Also, anyone can give you a Claddagh ring, a friend, sister, daughter, grandson, niece, grandparents, etc.
That said, there are several types of Claddagh rings:
The Celtic Knotted Claddagh ring is the most popular Claddagh ring. Instead of the clasped hands holding the heart, the Celtic Claddagh ring features Celtic knots that symbolize love, loyalty, commitment, and friendship.
The Celtic knot is also called the Holy Trinity, and in most cases, it’s presented as an engagement ring.
There also is the Big Claddagh ring, which boasts a large but authentic design. The ring is chunky and somewhat big and is a stunning statement piece.
The third type of Claddagh ring is the Claddagh ring set worn as a wedding ring. This ring style features a crown that is detached from the rest of the ring but worn as a separate ring.
The other ring set has the clasped hands holding the heart. So, you can think of this ring as a creative version of the wedding ring.
The other types of Claddagh rings include the Aran Claddagh, Birthstone Claddagh, Fenian, Mothers, Stackable Claddagh, Trinity, Claddagh ring with a skeletal design, the wooden Claddagh ring, and also, the minimalist and rustic Claddagh ring.
Claddagh ring curse
Numerous myths surround the history of the Claddagh rings, but contrary to popular beliefs, there are no Claddagh ring curses. Anyone can wear the Claddagh ring, as it is ultimately representative of love and unity.
Claddagh ring superstition
In Irish folklore, buying yourself a Claddagh ring was considered a curse and a symbol of bad luck, but this is no longer the case, and you can buy the ring for yourself easily.
It is also believed that the ring is meant to be the perfect gift for mothers, with a necklace with the Claddagh family pendant considered a symbol of devotion and the protection of a mother.
Overall, there are no negative things associated with the Claddagh ring, and this ring is considered the ring that represents love, loyalty, and friendship.
Conclusion
Anyone can buy the Claddagh ring because this ring design symbolizes love, loyalty, and friendship.
And if you are looking for a symbolic Irish-style ring, this will be the perfect one for you.
For more Useful Tips, read here. Or visit our homepage for more.
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.