Tattoo Traditions

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian “tatu” which means “to mark something.”

It is claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 years BC.  The purpose of tattooing has varied from culture to culture and its place differs on the time line. There are commonalties that prevail from the earliest known tattoos to those being done today on a world wide basis.

Tattoo art has always had an important role in ritual and tradition. In Borneo, women tattooed their symbols on their forearm indicating their particular skill. If a woman wore a symbol indicating she was a skilled weaver, her status as prime marriageable material was increased. Tattoos around the wrist and fingers were believed to ward away illness.

Throughout history tattoos have signified membership in a clan or society.  Movies and television have used the idea of a tattoo to indicate membership in a secret society. It has been believed that the wearer of a tattoo image calls the spirit of that image. The ferocity of a tiger would belong to the tattooed person. That tradition holds true today shown by the proliferation of images of tigers, panthers, snakes, scorpions, eagles, hawks and other birds of prey.