So what about the word tattoo? It is thought that it comes from the Tahitian word "tattau". This word literally means "To mark" which when you think about it, makes sense since a tattoo involves marks on the skin. Way back in the 18th and 19th century Tattoos were rediscovered by Europeans when during their explorations they came across the Polynesians and American Indians who bore tattoos when tattoos were very uncommon in Europe and the United States where they were amazed by the Polynesians and Indians who appeared to be covered in tattoos.
Everybody who gets a tattoo has their own reasons for doing so but these days it is mostly for decoration. The Roman Empire used tattoos to designate status for cerain groups of society. Criminals and slaves had tattoos which showed their status to warn others not to treat them with the respect a freeman would be entitled to.
The reasons people have had tattoos has changed throughout the ages and so have the methods of being tattooed. Pricking was one of the first methods used and later on the process was modified with the use of scratches to add color. Today tattoos are created by puncturing the skin and injecting pigment with a needle. This has always been the method of tattooing used by the Europeans.
Tattoos have a long history but the style of tattoos has always been decided by the ability and knowledge of the tattoo artist The internet is not the first thing you would think of in regard to tattoos but the internet has caused a minor revolution in tattooing because it is now possible to view thousands of printable tattoo designs online. You can browse through thousands of tattoo designs before choosing the and then printing out your perfect design. The prent out of the tatoo can then simply be taken to your tattoo artiist who can then copy the design.
* Stars
* Butterflies
* Fairies
* Flowers
* Dragons
* Celtic and Christian crosses
* Angels
* Skulls
* Hearts
When choosing a tattoo design, you should know about the design and what it means. It is very cool to add a heart or a love symbol, but you should think twice about adding a name. This is especially true if you want to add your girlfriend name. What will happen if you break up? You are stuck with this name on your arm or whatever part of your body you have the tattoo for the rest of your life and your next girlfriend may not take too kindly to it. It is fine for a parent or grandparent to have the names of their children or grandchildren on a tattoo because these will last forever.
Tribal tattoos are also very popular today. They come in many different designs and contain a lot of black ink. This is advantageous in that black ink doesn fade as fast as other colors. These tattoos are very visual and you can easily create your own design. Because of the use if lines and interlocking designs, they are excellent for use on broad areas of the body such as the shoulders and upper arms.
Celtic tattoos with their intricate knots and crosses are quite popular as tattooed armbands. In addition to the Celtic cross, Celtic butterfly tattoos are also in demand. The butterfly is a symbol of rebirth and a person with such a tattoo is showing the world that he/she has gone through difficult times and is now ready to face life anew. Although you mat love the look of this butterfly design, it is important for you to know the meaning behind some of the various designs so that you don't project the wrong image of yourself to others. For example, the Celtic knot is a symbol of eternity, while the Celtic trinity knot can have Christian, pagan or new age symbolism. The Celtic shamrock is not only the symbol of Ireland, but is also the symbol of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Each leaf of the shamrock has a particular meaning in a tattoo: Hope, Faith, Love and Luck.
Ci-Shen is the Chinese word for tattoo. While tattoos were traditionally used as a mark of punishment, many people now like to have small Chinese symbols tattooed on their body. When you choose one of these symbols, it is important that you thoroughly research its meaning before you get the tattoo. Make sure your translation source is reliable as some sources may use a loose translation that has no relation to the actual meaning. Japanese tattoos are usually small tattoos that can be completed in one sitting. Like the Chinese tattoos, the dragon features predominantly in the tattoos of this culture and the Phoenix is widely popular. This is a mythical creature that symbolizes justice and fidelity.
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