"With these hands I give you my heart and crown it with my love."
The giving of a Claddagh is an Irish tradition. It began as something simpler called a fede ring. It dated back to the times of the ROmans. The design of a Claddagh is a tradition in itself. A traditional Claddagh is made up of three shapes. A heart, a crown, and finally two hands clasping the heart. Years later in signified btthe 1800's a variation of the Claddagh ring was made in Dublin. This Claddagh is known as a Fenian Claddagh ring. This type of ring has no crown on it.
Traditionally, a Claddagh ring is passed on from mother to daughter. It is passed on while the mother is telling her daughter this saying, "With these hands I give you my heart and the crown my love." Another tradition that Joyce started was the giving of a Claddagh to someone's love. This love could be a girlfriend or even a boyfriend! At times it could be a future fiancée.
A final tradition is how to wear the Claddagh ring. This video tells you how to wear it from an Irish perspective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUrbVM2T8b0
Traditionally, a Claddagh ring is passed on from mother to daughter. It is passed on while the mother is telling her daughter this saying, "With these hands I give you my heart and the crown my love." Another tradition that Joyce started was the giving of a Claddagh to someone's love. This love could be a girlfriend or even a boyfriend! At times it could be a future fiancée.
A final tradition is how to wear the Claddagh ring. This video tells you how to wear it from an Irish perspective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUrbVM2T8b0
Pictured above are a Fenian, or non traditional Claddagh ring and below it a traditional Gold Claddagh ring.