The hearts often had the names of their mothers, wives, or girlfriends in the center. Heart: The Sailor heart tattoo is another symbol of Sailors keeping their loved ones close. Pin-Up Girls: These tattoos were a reminder to Sailors of their wives and girlfriends they left at home who were waiting for their return.ĭagger Through a Rose: This tattoo symbolizes that the Sailor who wears it is loyal and willing to fight anything for their family, be it their blood family or their Sailor comrades. It’s usually the sign of a humble Sailor who never forgets the dangers of the sea. ![]() Mermaids: Mermaids are a reminder of how dangerous and exciting the sea is, as mermaids were said to seduce Sailors into the sea towards their death. Hula Girls: This tattoo is also a symbol that a Sailor has served in Hawaii. Palm Tree: Palm tree Sailor tattoos symbolize that either the Sailor served in Hawaii or they sailed on Mediterranean cruises. Deckhands maintain the hull, deck, cargo handling, mooring, and superstructure. Rope on the Wrist: A Sailor with a rope tattoo on their wrist has identified themselves as a deckhand. The meaning behind the shark tattoo is that the person is willing to stand their ground and will not allow others to use them as a doormat. Shark: This tattoo shows what the Sailor has overcome during his time in the service. Golden Dragon: When a Sailor sported the golden dragon tattoo, it was because they successfully crossed the International Date Line. During WWII, these tattoos were exceedingly popular because they kept pigs and roosters on the Navy ships, and when the ships sank, the animals in their crates would float and sometimes be the only ones that survived. Pig and Rooster: The pig and the rooster were typically worn on each foot and were believed to hopefully keep the Sailor from drowning. Shellback Turtle: Sailors usually get this tattoo once they’re initiated into Neptune’s Court after successfully crossing the equator for the first time. Polar Bear: The polar bear tattoo is a rare one to find, but this means that a Sailor has crossed the Arctic Circle. Holding fast means that the Sailor will not let go no matter what. These words were thought to bring Sailors good luck when holding the line. Hold and Fast: The words “hold” and “fast” were often tattooed on the front of the Sailors’ fingers. Lighthouse: The lighthouse is worn to bring light, hope, and protection to Sailors. Swallows: Sailors earn a swallow tattoo for every 5,000 miles they’ve traveled. It resembles a compass rose.įully Rigged Ships: The meaning behind this tattoo is that the Sailor has made it through the rough, stormy waters around Cape Horn. Nautical Star: This is a symbol that means that a Sailor is always able to find their way home. ![]() While a Sailor is out at sea, the anchor is the most secure and stable item they have, and the anchor tattoo represents that stability that they hope to have throughout their lives. Each Sailor tattoo has its own meaning, whether that be a mark of a milestone, a reminder of a place, an experience, a triumph, or a symbol of patriotism.Īnchor Tattoos: If a Sailor has a single anchor tattoo, it means that they’ve either sailed the Atlantic Ocean or were a member of the Merchant Marines. Sailors have always had their superstitions, so it’s not a surprise that old Sailor tattoos were believed to bring them luck. While their way of making ink is rather unsanitary, it does seem to be a pattern for Sailors. Today, we use a needle and ink in a super sterile environment to do tattoos, but with the limited supplies that Sailors had, they resorted to using gunpowder and urine to make their ink. Now, you may be wondering what tools they used to give themselves tattoos. Captain John Hook’s diary holds the first written record of Sailor tattoos, as he saw them while traveling around the world. Sailors began giving themselves tattoos and bringing them back to Europe from the Pacific Islands during the 16th Century. Suggested read: American Tattoo Society Opens at MacDill AFB The History Behind Sailor Tattoos Each Sailor would often get a tattoo that symbolized and communicated to other Sailors what they accomplished during their service. But, the Sailors didn’t just get any ordinary tattoo. Sailors would tattoo themselves and each other to have what they called a souvenir from their travels. For hundreds of years, Sailor tattoos have been a tradition within the Navy.
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