Tattoos and their Cultural Significance

Tattoos are representation of machismo. In earlier days, these were known to be a typical   expression for bikers, sailors, and convicts. The significance of these symbols was not much. However, it would not be wrong to say that tattoos were representative of rich cultural histories.

In most cases, tattoos are a way to imprint defensive or healing symbols enduringly on the body. It was more than thousands of years ago that the concept of geometric patterns was invented by Polynesian cultures. In the year 1769, James Cook, a British explorer went for an expedition to Tahiti.


It was during this expedition that these marks were considered to be fashion elements in the whole of Europe. Most people are not aware of the fact that the concept of tattoo is more than thousands of years old. This is because it has been just a few decades that tattoo caught fancy of people living across the globe.

Traditionally, European men involved in hazardous professions such as those serving as sailors and coal miners used to get their anchors and lamps of miners symbols tattooed on their forearms for protection. This was an intentional and a dedicated practice since the late eighteenth century. 18th Century. The tradition of tattooing a loved one's name also developed during this time.

Other cultures have different significance for tattoo marks. People as an integral part of specific social, religious or political groups used to display their own tattoo designs. The marks on their bodies were actually representation of various beliefs they carried forward through varied generations.


The Maori culture of New Zealand considers the head as the most significant part of the body. This is also the reason that people following Maori culture have their face embellished with intricate tattoos. These serve as crucial marks of high status. Each tattoo design is known to be unique to the personality.

This is because it works towards conveying vital information about the social status, skills and ancestry of the person.

Men following Maori culture are given tattoos at a variety of stages in their lives. The decorations are also designed in a fashion to enhance their facial features and make them appear good-looking to their prospective wives.

Maori women also tattoo their faces. They usually focus on the area around the mouth. They believe that that tattoo around their mouth and chin will prevent skin from wrinkling and keep them young and beautiful.

There are more than countless meanings behind customary Native American tattoos. Most tattoos used to be a symbol of a status of a warrior within a tribe. This was a common practice among tribal people. Tribal people are known to be experts in using the symbol tattooed on their body.

Warriors usually sported tattoos of armaments and women received tattoos of various kinds of labor tools. It was not new for Europeans. They used the art on their bodies for more than centuries.


Native Americans loved to wear their own names as tattoos on their bodies

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