Free U.S. Shipping
This exclusive kilt pin channels the might of the Dragon — a timeless symbol of sovereignty and protection. Its head emerges from a flowing body of Celtic / Viking knotwork, representing the endless cycle of creation and destruction.
This 4" tall, rugged pewter kilt pin design was drawn exclusively for USA Kilts by Doug Cavanagh at Celtic Hammer Club. The pin was hand cast in pewter and polished to a high shine in the UK. It has 2 straight pins and plunger clasps for a secure connection to your kilt.
To meddle with the Dragon is to take your life, or even your very soul, in your own hands. Only the very brave and wise dare try.
The Celtic Lore:
To the Celts, the dragon (or serpent) was a symbol of sovereignty and power, representing a guardian of natural forces and of the land itself.
As such, the dragon symbolized a king's or leader's power and right to rule. Nowhere is this more evident than in Wales - the land of the ancient Britons and King Arthur.
The name Pendragon comes from the Welsh; "pen" (head, chief, top) and "dgraig" or "dragon" (dragon; warrior). It was often used as a byname for a supreme chief. The most famous example is Uther Pendragon, King Arthur's father. The Welsh also preserved for us the legend of Lludd and Llefelys; the prophetic battle between a Welsh red dragon a white dragon that symbolized the Saxons.
Celtic and Norse serpents biting their own tails (ala the ouroboros) were guardians of order and represented eternal cycles of creation and renewal.
The Celts viewed the serpent as a symbol of creation, fertility, and rebirth. This is seen in the healing goddess Sirona who was often depicted with snakes and eggs. And of course we are familiar with the myth of Saint Patrick driving the serpents from Ireland - ie. pagan beliefs and philosophies.
The Norse Lore:
Many objects from the Iron Age and the Viking Age feature carvings of creatures reminiscent of dragons. For instance the “dragon prow” of a viking longship which was meant to both protect the vessel from sea monsters and also inspire terror in one’s enemies.
Viking dragons were usually more serpent-like than the winged dragon we are used to from medieval art or modern fantasy.
Nevertheless, the dragon/serpent/wyrm was a potent symbol of power.
The world serpent, Jörmungandr, coils around Midgard and can only be defeated by Thor at Ragnarök. The serpent represents the boundary between our world and the spirit world - between order and chaos. It is both a warning and a protective barrier. This is why you see serpents wrapping around the text carved on rune stones.
Another fearsome dragon is the one slain by Beowulf in the final part of his epic poem; a battle Beowulf does not survive even though he is victorious.
The Germanic and Norse traditions are also where we get the concept of the dragon guarding a horde of treasure. Dragons can be good or evil - symbols of protection, of the earth itself, or of mindless greed and paranoia. They are primal, either way. A cautionary metaphor for any ambitious warrior.
