The pagan Celts believed that hospitality had an almost religious significance and looked on the cauldron as being symbolic of this quality.

Its place in Celtic mythology also connects it with blood sacrifice, fertility, immortality and journeys into the Celtic Other-world.

In later history, its symbolic nature emerged in the Grail legends as what had long been a magical vessel of plenty became a Christian vessel.

The Holy Grail once contained the blood of Christ and was thus thought to bestow immortality and a heavenly life after death for the faithful Christian.