Celtic Cross

The Celtic cross is a common symbol used by far-right and neo-Nazi groups. The common name ‘Celtic cross’ for the symbol comes from its historical and current use in art and sculpture, especially gravestones, in countries like Ireland and the United Kingdom; the symbol experienced some popularization around the turn of the 20th century in the United States. 

The Celtic cross as used by hate groups should not be confused with other similar symbols used in non-hateful contexts (e.g., gravestones; "target" symbol, etc) and should always be identified and evaluated in context. 

The symbol was first used as a far-right symbol in France during and after World War II. Since 1945 it has become a common symbol used by hate groups around the world. For hate groups, the Celtic cross is generally intended to represent “ancient” European heritage.

The version of the Celtic cross used specifically by hate groups is usually a circle intersected by two horizontal and vertical lines of equal length; in flags and stickers used by hate groups, the Celtic cross is often coloured black with a white border.