Archive for 'Skull Tattoos'
Day of the Dead Tattoo
November 28, 2011 by admin, under Skull Tattoos.
Day of the Dead tattoos has become popular beyond the country which they originally hailed from. In actuality, the Day of the Dead is the Mexican version of Halloween and has also been adopted by other cultures. This holiday celebrates the people who have passed on to the other dimension, usually with friends and family gathering to honor their loved ones.
The Day of the Dead Symbols
The symbol for Day of the Dead tattoos is usually a skull, adorned with various designs or just simply drawn in bright colors. Also known as Dia de Los Muertos, there are various symbols used to depict this holiday. Some of which include skulls, wine and various spirits, skeletons in celebration, a half flesh and half skull face, bandoleros and bread known as “pan de muertoâ€.
Each symbol is deeply rooted to the main concept: remembrance of the dead. The skeletons represent loved ones who have passed away while the colors, adornment and clothes placed on them are meant to depict that they are still alive in spirit. The face depicted as half skull and flesh also provides the same message and reminds the living of the Cycle of Life.
It should also be noted that Day of the Dead tattoos are almost always colorful. This is because the colors themselves have significant meaning. For example, pink means celebration while white depicts hope and purity. The color orange talks of a new day while red is seen as blood and sacrifice. Purple is usually translated as the color of mourning.
People who choose to have Day of the Dead tattoos usually stick to the original meaning of the holiday: remembering a loved one. Hence, it isn’t surprising to place names or additional symbols with the Dia de los Muertos tattoo to make it more personal for the owner. In some cases, the skull is not merely a remembrance but rather, seen as the individual’s true self. This is because in Mexican culture, the skull is not a representation of death but rather of the soul. It depicts what is within everyone and by adorning it, they are showing the acts of the person within the flesh.
Best Places for Day of the Dead Tattoo
Thanks to how easy it is to scale skulls, Day of Dead tattoos for women and men can be placed practically anywhere. Favorite locations include the arm, the lower back, the shoulder blades, in the region of the chest and the hipbone. Since the symbol has managed to gain appreciation beyond Mexican culture, it is not surprising to find other people recognizing and choosing the design. However, many choose to have their Day of the Dead tattoos small since the skull is often seen as displeasing in public.