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Claddaghs continue to be worn, primarily by those of Irish heritage, as both a cultural symbol and as engagement and wedding rings.<ref name="Murphy"/> At their [[Celtic Neopaganism|Celtic Pagan]] [[handfasting]], [[Scottish American|Irish/Scottish American]]<ref>http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/1930:2450/1/Jim_Morrison.htm</ref> musician [[Jim Morrison]] of [[The Doors]] and [[Irish American]] author [[Patricia Kennealy-Morrison]] exchanged claddagh rings.<ref name="PKM">{{cite book | first =Patricia | last =Kennealy | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =1992 | month = | title =Strange Days: My Life With And Without Jim Morrison | chapter = | editor = | others = | edition = | pages = | publisher =Dutton/Penguin | location =New York| isbn =0-525-93419-7 | url = }}</ref> A picture of the rings was included on the cover of Kennealy-Morrison's memoir, ''Strange Days: My Life With and Without Jim Morrison'', and the claddaghs can be seen in most of her author photos as well.<ref name="PKM"/>
Claddaghs continue to be worn, primarily by those of Irish heritage, as both a cultural symbol and as engagement and wedding rings.<ref name="Murphy"/> At their [[Celtic Neopaganism|Celtic Pagan]] [[handfasting]], [[Scottish American|Irish/Scottish American]]<ref>http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/1930:2450/1/Jim_Morrison.htm</ref> musician [[Jim Morrison]] of [[The Doors]] and [[Irish American]] author [[Patricia Kennealy-Morrison]] exchanged claddagh rings.<ref name="PKM">{{cite book | first =Patricia | last =Kennealy | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =1992 | month = | title =Strange Days: My Life With And Without Jim Morrison | chapter = | editor = | others = | edition = | pages = | publisher =Dutton/Penguin | location =New York| isbn =0-525-93419-7 | url = }}</ref> A picture of the rings was included on the cover of Kennealy-Morrison's memoir, ''Strange Days: My Life With and Without Jim Morrison'', and the claddaghs can be seen in most of her author photos as well.<ref name="PKM"/>


Claddagh rings have made periodic appearances in movies and television, often as a plot device to indicate the ethnic origins or relationship status of a character, to illustrate wedding scenes, or to subtly indicate that the relationship of two characters has changed. In a scene loosely based on the above wedding ceremony, [[Val Kilmer]] and [[Kathleen Quinlan]], as fictional versions of Morrison and Kennealy-Morrison, are seen exchanging the rings in [[Oliver Stone|Oliver Stone's]] movie, ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]''.<ref name="PKM"/>.
Claddagh rings have made periodic appearances in movies and television, often as a plot device to indicate the ethnic origins or relationship status of a character, to illustrate wedding scenes, or to subtly indicate that the relationship of two characters has changed. In a scene loosely based on the above wedding ceremony, [[Val Kilmer]] and [[Kathleen Quinlan]], as fictional versions of Morrison and Kennealy-Morrison, are seen exchanging Claddagh rings in [[Oliver Stone|Oliver Stone's]] movie, ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]''.<ref name="PKM"/>.


[[Jill Masterton]] from the [[James Bond]] Novel [[Goldfinger (novel)|Goldfinger]] wore a gold claddagh ring.
[[Jill Masterton]] from the [[James Bond]] Novel [[Goldfinger (novel)|Goldfinger]] wore a gold claddagh ring.


Sometimes authors of fiction and fantasy works have given the ring a somewhat altered or fanciful symbolism to better suit their purposes, such as writer/director [[Joss Whedon]]'s use of the ring as a recurring plot device in the television series, ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy The Vampire Slayer]]''.<ref name="Bite Me">Stafford, Nikki (2002) ''Bite Me! An Unofficial Guide to the World of Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Toronto, ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-540-5 p.213</ref> <!-- No more cruft. If you can't source it, AND write it as integrated text that adds to the encyclopedic value of the article, DON'T add it. Many artists and individuals have worn the rings or used them as a motif. Show how it's relevant or don't add it. -->
In [[David Levithan]]'s young adult novel [[The Realm of Possibility]], Jed gives Daniel a claddagh ring on their one-year anniversary.

Sometimes authors of fiction and fantasy works have given the ring a somewhat altered or fanciful symbolism to better suit their purposes, such as writer/director [[Joss Whedon]]'s use of the ring as a recurring plot device in the television series, ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy The Vampire Slayer]]''.<ref name="Bite Me">Stafford, Nikki (2002) ''Bite Me! An Unofficial Guide to the World of Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Toronto, ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-540-5 p.213</ref> Whedon reinterpreted the meaning of the ring - when worn on the left hand, facing in, in the usual "married" configuration - as meaning, "the wearer is destined to be with his or her love forever."<ref name="Bite Me"/> While the actual meaning ascribed to the ring in this instance is incorrect,<ref name="Murphy"/> it is used in much the same way as claddaghs have been used in more traditional roles in fiction: to provide an ongoing visual reference to the type of relationship that exists between two of the lead characters, [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] and [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]]. The claddagh ring could also be an indicator of Angel's Irish heritage which is occasionally mentioned in the television series. This ring also played an important part in the 2010 film [[Leap Year]]. Declan ([[Matthew Goode]]) had given a claddagh ring to his girlfriend, and gave it to Anna as an engagement ring towards the end.
<!-- No more cruft. If you can't source it, AND write it as integrated text that adds to the encyclopedic value of the article, DON'T add it. Many artists and individuals have worn the rings or used them as a motif. Show how it's relevant or don't add it. -->


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:15, 27 August 2010

Claddagh ring

The Claddagh ring (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring given as a token of love or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the city of Galway. The ring was first produced in the 17th century during the reign of Queen Mary II, though elements of the design are much older.

Symbolism

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands (one male, one female) clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

The wearing of a Claddagh ring in modern usage is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. The ring is worn on the right hand with the heart oriented away from the wearer, to show that the wearer is not romantically linked. When turned the other way, it shows that the wearer is in a relationship, or their heart has been "captured". When worn on the left hand with the heart oriented again away from the wearer, it implies the wearer is engaged; turned the other way, it indicates the wearer is married.[1]

Origins

The Claddagh ring was inspired by a widespread group of finger rings called “Fede Rings”.[2] The name "fede" comes from the Italian phrase mani in fede ("hands in trust" or "hands in faith"). These rings date from Roman times, when the gesture of clasped right hands (dextrarum iunctio) was a popular design style (vid. Jones). Fede rings are cast in the form of two clasped hands, symbolizing faith, trust or “plighted troth.” Fede rings were popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe, and there are examples from this era in the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin.[2]

Jones and Kunz do not classify the Claddugh as a fede ring--it is "an Irish WEDDING/BETROTHAL ring" as these scientists classify it. A fede ring has clasped hands--the Claddugh does not have clasped hands. So it's inspired by the fede but is not a fede in itself. To say the Claddugh is "inspired by" the fede ring is correct. According to Jones,[3], the Claddugh (Jones' original spelling) originated as part of Claddagh's betrothal traditions; Jones says the natives of Claddugh [sic] are "particularly exclusive in their tastes and habits."

Jones explains:

The clasped hands [style ring]... are... in constant use in [the]... community [of] Claddugh [sic] at [County] Galway.... [They] rarely [intermarry] with others than their own people [sic]. The [Claddagh] wedding-ring [sic] is an heirloom in the family... transferred from the mother to the daughter who is first [to be] married, and so passes to her descendants. Many of these [rings]... are very old.

Some evidence suggests the Claddagh was a marginal custom until recently. Kunz [4], while showing a photo of a typical gold Claddagh ring which he also spells "Claddugh", merely references an old Irish tradition of the bridegroom renting a gold ring in the event he couldn't afford to buy one. Kunz makes no mention of the "Claddugh" ring in his text.

McCarthy [5] merely repeats Kunz, making no reference at all to the Claddagh ring, or anything similar in the Irish tradition section of his "Betrothal Ring" chapter. McCarthy reminds us that men did not wear wedding rings commonly until World War II, though there was common tradition for men in Victorian times; this tradition for men vanished in Edwardian times, and the ring tradition of women was essentially ignored from Kunz well beyond McCarthy.

It has in recent years become demonstrative of pride in Irish heritage, though none of the above ring experts makes any mention of Claddugh wearing-customs (vid. Jones). Naturally there are many legends about the origins of the ring, particularly those connected with the Joyce Family of Connacht, Galway.

The Irish Potato Famine (1845–1849) brought thousands of Irish to America, and from thence the Claddagh ring may have spread as a tradition--we do not know. Today the design is worn worldwide, and has a certain Irish heritage meaning attached to it, though McCarthy makes no mention of any of this. Neither do Jones or Kunz.

A "Fenian" Claddagh, without the crown, was later designed in Dublin for the Irish Republican community, but that is not an indication that the crown in the original design was intended as a symbol of fidelity to the British crown. The Fenian Claddagh, while still in use, does not share the popularity of the ancient design. In any event, it seems likely that the crown of the Claddugh was intended to represent the ancient kings of Ireland[6].

Modern usage and the Claddagh in Folklore and Fiction

Claddaghs continue to be worn, primarily by those of Irish heritage, as both a cultural symbol and as engagement and wedding rings.[1] At their Celtic Pagan handfasting, Irish/Scottish American[7] musician Jim Morrison of The Doors and Irish American author Patricia Kennealy-Morrison exchanged claddagh rings.[8] A picture of the rings was included on the cover of Kennealy-Morrison's memoir, Strange Days: My Life With and Without Jim Morrison, and the claddaghs can be seen in most of her author photos as well.[8]

Claddagh rings have made periodic appearances in movies and television, often as a plot device to indicate the ethnic origins or relationship status of a character, to illustrate wedding scenes, or to subtly indicate that the relationship of two characters has changed. In a scene loosely based on the above wedding ceremony, Val Kilmer and Kathleen Quinlan, as fictional versions of Morrison and Kennealy-Morrison, are seen exchanging Claddagh rings in Oliver Stone's movie, The Doors.[8].

Jill Masterton from the James Bond Novel Goldfinger wore a gold claddagh ring.

Sometimes authors of fiction and fantasy works have given the ring a somewhat altered or fanciful symbolism to better suit their purposes, such as writer/director Joss Whedon's use of the ring as a recurring plot device in the television series, Buffy The Vampire Slayer.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Murphy, Colin, and Donal O'Dea (2006) The Feckin' Book of Everything Irish. New York, Barnes & Noble. p.126 ISBN 0-7607-8219-9
  2. ^ a b The Story of the Claddagh Ring from Pot O'Gold online. Accessed 18 Oct 2009
  3. ^ Finger-ring Lore, by Sir William Jones, Chatto & Windus, 1890.
  4. ^ Rings for the Finger, by George Frederick Kunz, J. B. Lippincott Co., 1917.
  5. ^ Rings Through the Ages, by James Remington McCarthy, Harper & Brothers, 1945.
  6. ^ Jones, ibid.
  7. ^ http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/1930:2450/1/Jim_Morrison.htm
  8. ^ a b c Kennealy, Patricia (1992). Strange Days: My Life With And Without Jim Morrison. New York: Dutton/Penguin. ISBN 0-525-93419-7. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |coauthors= and |month= (help)
  9. ^ Stafford, Nikki (2002) Bite Me! An Unofficial Guide to the World of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Toronto, ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-540-5 p.213

References

External links

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