So, you fancy a deck that’s as steeped in history as it is in fun? Meet the original Celtic Deck, fully licensed (because we like to keep things above board) with the Bicycle brand name for Cultúrlán Enterprises. This beauty comes sealed with the Soisliúcanach sticker and boasts unique informational cards that'll make you sound like a total legend at your next gathering. Each face card showcases two figures from early Irish mythology, while the backs feature the Celtic Cosmology glyph—a fancy way of showing off the cauldron of poetic inspiration, right there on the Newgrange front-stone, hugging a sacred tree (you know, no big deal).
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Those four spiraled branches? They represent the sacred trees and seasons: the flowering rowan for Spring, oak under mast for Summer, ripened hazel for Autumn, and fruiting holly for Winter. Perched among them are the three primary otherworldly birds of Celtic myth: ravens, eagles, and swans—because why not? Around the cauldron, you’ll find four animals, all decked out in white coats and red ears, embodying different aspects of society: the wild, prophetic boar, the warrior-hound, the noble kingly horse, and the bull of abundant wealth (a right motley crew, honestly).
Every single detail of this deck’s iconography has been lovingly hand-drawn from medieval Irish literature and classical Celtic traditions. You’ll spot the intricate decoration on Earnmbás' headpiece and the knot work surrounding Lugh—proper craftsmanship, if you ask me. Traditional suits have had a makeover too, transformed into the four magical items of the Tuatha Dé Danann: clubs, spades, diamonds, and hearts, representing the magical spear, sword, stone, and cauldron brought from the mystical cities of the North. This deck is part of a magnificent triad alongside the Bicycle Celtic Symmetrical Deck and the Bicycle Celtic Gaelic Deck.
