The eight-spoked wheel is the Celtic emblem of the sun. It is most often associated with the solar/thunder deity Taranis and is often depicted as a wagon or chariot wheel. The eight spokes represent dates of solar significance: the solstices, the equinoxes, and Samhain, Beltaine, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh, the days of the four great festivals of the gods.

When Christianity came to Ireland, it brought with it its own symbolism of trinities, wheels, and fish. For a culture as heavily invested in symbolism as the Celtic people were, the coincidences of the new religion must have seemed striking indeed.

The very best example of the confluence of pagan and Christian symbolism can be seen in the Celtic cross. While other European Christian crosses are usually simple Latin T-shaped crosses, the Celtic cross is altogether different. The Celtic Christian cross typifies the Celts' positive approach to death.

Image of Taranis.

Roman crucifixes are often somber depictions of death. Celtic versions of the crucified Christ, on the other hand, have the appearance of smiling Celtic deities with mustaches, bald heads, and radiant smiles. Sometimes they feature a youthful Jesus or even a sun or spiral instead of a human figure. Instead of nails and blood, there are spirals, knots, and cavorting animals.

The four posts of the cross are usually equal in length. Although a bottom post is usually added to make it more closely resemble the Latin cross, the upper cross design is usually separated from the lower portion. The four arms of the cross are encircled by a wheel, and the arms are usually cut out with circular notches that can be connected to form a perfect solar wheel with eight spokes. This same wheel is seen to accompany the ancient Gallic sky god Taranis. At the same time, it is strikingly similar to the chi rho, a solar emblem associated with the Roman Emperor Constantine that was in wide-spread use at the time the two cultures began crossing paths.

Another pagan cross symbol that saw continuous use into Christian times was the bride's cross, a solar wheel resembling a swastika, constructed from harvest straw or rushes and hung over doors at Imbolc, in honor of St. Brigid, also known colloquially as “St. Bride.” The original cross represents a form of corn dolly, a harvest talisman created annually and kept to ensure prosperity and protect the household. Following ancient tradition, the crosses are woven annually from the straw saved from the last harvest. At the end of the year, they are burned and replaced with new ones.

A typical Celtic-style cross.

The straw cross is still a popular bit of folk custom, created after a story in the mythology of St. Brigid that tells of her creating such an emblem out of rushes to convert an elderly pagan as he lay dying. The most commonly cited power of the talisman is protection from fire, an obvious connection to both the saint and the fire goddess who was her predecessor.

The Cross of St. Brigid.