Unlike common belief among many, a tattoo is not a simple fashion statement that got popularized in contemporary times. In fact, for thousands of years, they have been around in various forms in different cultures. With time, technology and intricacies have evolved. The means to create masterpieces on human skin, anywhere on the body, is being perfected. Trends and types of tattoos keep evolving, too. But the demand for timeless traditional tattoo styles remains constant, irrespective of the culture. If you are looking for inspiration for tattoos, you may wonder where to begin. This is where the importance of understanding tattoos and their meaning comes in. Tattoos are going to be a permanent part of your body forever; hence, there is no room to be whimsical about it. In this article, we go in-depth into traditional tattoos and their meaning specifically.
Origin of traditional tattoo styles
Traditional tattooing has been around for different purposes in different cultures across the globe. From Japan, Polynesia, to Native American- they speak volumes about their cultures and stories. For example, the Polynesian tattoos marked the social status of the person, while Japanese tattoos depicted mythological characters and motifs that were symbols of different emotions or aspects of life. In the western culture, traditional tattoos gained popularity during the early 20th century among sailors and soldiers. What started as motifs depicting aspects of their profession soon became a fashion statement for the people from other strata of society.
Symbolism in traditional tattoo styles
Swallows, anchors, dragons, tribal patterns, etc,. are a few popular ideas of traditional tattoo styles. Several meanings and ideas were associated with these tattoos. Let us get into the different designs and their meanings:
- Swallows or Albatross- This is a popular design chosen by sailors and symbolic of safe travel and the hope of returning home. Today, it has different interpretations among different individuals. While some see it like a symbol of freedom and to others it is synonymous with hope.
- Anchor- This is a classic design among sailors and men particularly. In the contemporary days, the anchor motif is chosen as it depicts masculinity or simply because it presents you as a personality of free spirit and adventurer.
- Dragon- Traditionally it stands for wisdom, strength and protection but the modern counterparts are designs chosen by those of bold personality to convey a streak of recklessness at heart.
- Tribal patterns- There are a variety of tribal motifs which are popular and usually chosen for the traditional meanings like family ties, spiritual guardianship etc.
Why choose traditional tattoo designs?
If you are new to tattooing, deciding on a style and design can be rather tricky. But traditional tattoos are timeless and come with deep meanings associated with them. They are like an archive of ideas and you are likely to find one that resonates with your reason to get a tattoo. So, choosing a design or getting something customized becomes easier. Your tattoo artist Kassel can simply work around the base idea of the chosen traditional motif and make something unique for you. They would not need to make something entirely from scratch and you need not worry about the design aligning with your idea or personality.
Getting inked is an extremely personal experience and there are so many aspects to ponder on before you commit to the process. From choosing the design, location of the tattoo, to selecting the right artist, pre and post-care, do everything you can to make the process simpler. Get clarity about the meaning to make the right choice that you can commit to for life.