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This bold zoomorphic wolf kilt pin features a fierce wolf's head atop a body and tail made of interlaced Celtic-Viking knotwork. The wolf teaches the balance between independence and loyalty, reminding us to trust our instincts and honor our pack. Wolves reminded the ancients of the crucial bonds of family, clan and tribe.
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.
Wolves in the Celtic Lore:
The wolf spirit was considered similar to that of the warrior, to the point that the ancients sometimes imagined the two as interchangeable.
One example is the legend of Laignach Faelad. The name is a combination of "Laignech" (meaning "of the spear," or "spear-armed") and "Fáelad" (meaning "werewolf"). Laignach was a warrior who could transform into a wolf and who passed this ability on to his descendants. In some stories this is considered a generational curse causing us to consider that following animal instinct can be a double-edged sword.
The wolf was a symbol of primal strength, as seen in names like that of the Ulster warrior Conall Cearnach ("strong like a wolf") and in the story of High King Cormac Mac Airt, who was said to have been raised and suckled by a she-wolf. In the great Táin Bó Cúailnge, the goddess Morrígan transforms into a wolf to attack the hero Cú Chulainn.
Both the Celts and the Norse seem to have had a warrior tradition of fighters who would wear the pelt of a wolf into battle to channel the beast’s prowess. This is sometimes attributed to the Fianna; the war band led by Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Depictions of wolves appear on Celtic coins, such as the "moon-eating" wolf, show the wolf in a cosmic, symbolic role, often connected with the sun and moon. Wolves were important enough to be used in place names as well. For instance the name "Faelcú" (wild hound) in Faeldrim.
Wolves in the Norse Lore:
Just like the Celts, the Norse revered the wolf as a sacred animal – a primal force for good or ill.
Odin, a god of war and the dead, keeps two wolves as companions. These are Geri ("greedy") and Freki ("ravenous"). In Valhalla, it is said that Odin gives all of his food to his wolves and only consumes wine. Geri and Freki also sometimes feast on the corpses of the fallen on battlefields. Like ravens, vikings saw the presence of a wolf on the battlefield as a sign of Odin's presence.
Two wolves chase after the sun and moon resulting in the cycle of day and night. They are Sköll ("mockery") and Hati ("hatred"). At Ragnarök, they will finally catch and devour their prey.
Similar to the famous Berserkers, some Vikings wore wolf pelts. Known as the Úlfhéðnar, they were devotees of Odin and fought fiercely as dedicated war bands.
