There can be little doubt that a Celtic tattoo is very popular at the moment, especially amongst the glitterati such as movie stars, sports stars and rock/pop stars. If you are planning to get one inked, you need to know the difference between a real ‘Celtic’ tattoo and a ‘tribal’ tattoo. There is a difference and, hopefully, this article will put you on the right track!

Knot Work

It is essential to look for excellent knot work in the design of your Celtic tattoo; an authentic Celtic knot has no beginning or end. Why? Well, this ‘never-ending’ knot design is a symbol of infinity in areas such as faith, love and life. These kind of knots have been used by meditators for centuries because they are ideal for fixing one’s attention (essential when attempting to reach a state of intense relaxation and concentration). In particular, the ‘Trinity Knot’ has proved to be popular with many people and is a fine example of a Celtic knot that is ‘unending.’

Symbols of Territory

The Celts were a mysterious people and often used different kinds of symbols as a way of demonstrating where they came from:

1. Harps and Shamrocks: Irish Celts.
2. Red Dragon and Thistle: Scottish Celts.
3. Daffodil and Leek: Welsh Celts.

It makes sense, if you have roots in these areas of the world, to add these symbols into the design of your Celtic tattoo. This will give you a more personalized design and be a talking point amongst friends and family!

More Celtic Symbols

This is just the beginning of the story because the Celts had many more designs and symbols in their art:

1. Numbers were very important to the Celts. ‘Nine’ was a special number with much power, as was twenty seven (9 X 3 = 27). ‘Three’ was also an essential number with lots of symbolical meaning (the relationship between the sky, earth and sea; the human soul also had a three-part nature). Other popular numbers, include thirty three (honor and royalty); five (family unit symbol in Ireland); seventeen (the passing of the moon and also the limits of generational ancestral memory in a clan).

2. The Celtic Cross/the Tree of Life. These symbols represent the amalgamation of Celtic Mysticism and Christianity by Druids around the seventh century. Again, these symbols are weaved into the fabric of endless knots.

3. The Claddagh. This symbol consists of a heart and a crown, both linking. For those about to get married this is a lucky symbol as it represents love and friendship.

4. The Pentagram. Over the years, this symbol has come to represent many things, sometimes evoking images of devil-worship and the supernatural. This is unfortunate, for the pentagram, to the Celts, represents the five stages of life: birth, youth, adulthood, old age, death. It can also represent the five elements: fire, water, air, spirit and earth.

So, this is how you recognize a Celtic tattoo. You now know that you need a mixture of these symbols in your design and a tattoo artist with some skill!

Recently Tribal Tattoos have enjoyed a rejuvenation . The originals go beyond the intertwined stripes of black shapes that are common today. Bountious of the ancient tattoo patterns have given way to swirls, spikes, knots, and totems that come from the conception of the initiator rather than any of the ancient tribes.

The tribal style of tattoos comes from the older tribes such as the Celtics (Ireland, Scotland, & Wales), Maori Tribe (indigenous people of Brand-new Zealand), The Haida Tribe (indigenous people along the west coast of North America), the Marquesan (Polynesian inhabitants of the Marquises Islands) and the tribes of Borneo. Native Americans also used tattoos to denote rank, abundance, tribe affiliation, family, role in world and deeds of bravery.

Maori

The Maori tribes migrated from Eastern Polynesia around 800 to 1300 AD and were the initial settlers in Advances Zealand. They developed their own language. The Maori were described as a furious and glorious warrior race. Inter-tribal warfare was a way of life, with the conquered being enslaved or eaten! The British exempted the Maori from conscription in World War Two, however. over 17,000 Maori Natives volunteered! The traditional Maori tribal tattoos are known as ta moko, and consisted of bold spiral designs covering the face. The tattooing process was a tribal ritual that made the use of bone chisels for tattooing.

Haida

The Haida are North American Indians who were clever fishermen and seafarers who lived along the coast of British Columbia and Alaska. The Haida are well known as skilled artisans of wood, metal and design. They were also known as fearsome warriors who kidnapped slaves as far south in California. The Tribal tattoos of the Haida resembled pictures of the Indian astrology, thunderbirds, beavers, bears, and fish. The tattoo style of the Haida is forceful and masculine.

Celts

The Celts were a self-respecting , warrior class who inhabited the English Isles before the Roman invasion 55 B.C. under Julius Caesar. The Celts were such a threat that the Romans built the Hadrian Wall to keep them away. The endless knots inside and out of the outlines identify the Tribal tattoos of the Celtics.arquesan

Sea-faring Polynesians from Samoa colonized the Marquises Islands as early as 300 A.D. They were warring tribes who sometimes cannibalized their enemies. The devastation of the native Marquesan occurred with the introduction of diseases from the European explorers. These islanders covered their bodies completely with tattoos. The Marquesan Islanders used their bodies as a living canvas that told picture stories.

Borneo

Borneo is the third largest island in the world. The rainforest of the Borneo Island is very rich in biodiversity. The tribes of Borneo used tattoos for protection and proof of their achievements. Needless to say, they were notorious as headhunters. Their tattoos usually took the form of scorpions, flowers, dogs, dragons and spirals.

Celebrities

The ex-professional boxer, Mike Tyson’s facial tattoo was influenced by a combination of the Maori and Borneo Tribal tattoos.

Sandra Bullock has a Tribal tattoo design below her navel.

Pamela Anderson of Bay Watch fame, has a scattering tattoos, including a Tribal design on her lower back.

Conclusion

The vivid template of the Tribal tattoo expresses personal freedom and uniqueness of the wearer. Tribal tattoos have a simple appeal that reinforces a positive feeling about ourselves and connects us to ancient mystery of the tribal rituals, which faded away with history.

Are you planning to get a tattoo? Do you have absolutely no idea what tattoo to get? Well, the first place to search for tattoo designs is, of course, the Internet. You will find lots of sites with tattoo galleries and studios, not to mention the useful articles from tattoo specialists and testimonials from tattoo lovers, if it’s your first tattoo. All of these will help you make a more informed decision.

You should get an unique one, but most of all, one to live with! Unlike jewelry, paintings etc., a tattoo cannot be taken away from us. We can ascribe personal values and meanings to the art work, without the fear of ever losing it. That permanent drawing remains as a mark of the emotions and happenings that we have once experienced.

The tattoo culture has it’s origins in ancient cultures, recognized as a mark of privilege or royalty. Through the centuries, somehow, it has become a negative image, “pagan”, and those that had tattoos were considered savages (like the African or Indian aborigines with tribal tattoos). Later on, tattoos were portrayed as an expression of rebellious strength.

Nowadays, tattooing has become not only stylish, but a symbol of conformity to certain ideas and beliefs, a symbol of belonging, even an individual status. With each generation, more and more people have it done and speak about the Tattoo Art and Tattoo Artists. Quite a change! Once, people who had tattoos were either powerful, or criminals. Now everyday Joe’s and Jane’s are walking around in their business suits that cover cross tattoos, girl tattoos or whatever. You will find the same black heart tattoo on your assistant’s hip as on your milkman’s neck.

Unfortunately, the reason for tattooing is not always for the appreciation of tattoos as works of art. The music videos and movies on TV today are full of celebrities showing off their painted-on (!) tattoos. We have to admit that the power of the media to influence our mind is part of the reason that tattoos have become so important for the mainstream culture in the United States. Every teenager is considering having done a Britney Spears tattoo. But that doesn’t change the fact that the new generation believes in the expression of their own personality (not that of their parents). By digressing away from the trends of the older generation, the youth of today makes a stand.

On the other hand, we can also say that the increase of the information, available through TV, Internet, magazines and other media, has brought about a totally different appreciation for tattoos. They have become works of art. The more types and designs, the more tattoos became a form of decoration. They are not only beautiful, they can also be incredible, noble works of art, considering the fact that those decorated with tattoos have gone through pain to attain the beauty.

However, getting a tattoo is, still, an experience that many people refuse to go through. Sitting in the seat with that high sound in your ear for at least an hour is mind altering for many of us. But that doesn’t change the increasingly popular trend of tattooing. At least once a day, we hear someone speaking about getting a new tattoo.

So, if you are one of them, then don’t hesitate to look for tattoo designs on the specialized websites, check out the tattoos gallery and pick the latest online store.

Tattoo Me Now ! Thousands of Tattoo Designs ! Tattoo addicts all over the world are breathing a sigh of relief Because They Have Instant Access To Thousands Of Gorgeous Tattoo Designs They Can Browse From The Comfort Of Their Home. Find Tattoos You Will be In Love With For The Rest Of Your Life ! It seems quality tattoo designs are almost impossible to find online. So how do you find that perfect tattoo ?

The secret is to browse through a lot of tattoo ideas before you settle on one. That is where the problem comes in I have spent countless of late nights and early hours searching for tattoo ideas online most of the times quitting in frustration after having found nothing of value.. No wonder so many people are walking around with downright ugly tattoos ! “There must be a better way” I thought for myself.. Dream a little “In A Perfect World, All Tattoo Decisions Would Be Made Based On Careful Consideration In Peace And Quite With An Endless Supply Of Absolutely Beautiful Tattoo Designs To Choose From”

TattooMeNow Design Gallery This gallery contains over 3,523 unique designs in 40 different categories. A few of the categories included are, tribal tattoos, biker tattoos, butterfly tattoos, Chinese tattoos, fairy tattoos and abstract tattoos among many other categories. One convenient feature about the design gallery is that you can print out whatever design you choose and bring it to your favorite artist. The bookmark feature makes it easy to go back to designs that you may want to use later on. A person could easily spend hours browsing through the myriad of unique designs, and come up with many original ideas for their next tattoo.

Members Gallery One of the best features we found with Tattoo Me Now is the active and helpful community. Inside the members gallery we were delighted to see hundreds of tattoo pictures people posted in different categories. People post pictures of their tattoos to see what others think about them, seek insight on what to add to a design ,or to get advice about what color changes to make to their tattoo. For each tattoo picture you see, you can make a comment about the picture, or rate the picture using the five star rating system. We found the member photos to be neatly organized into categories which made it easy to find designs in specific areas that interested us.

Join The TattooMeNow Gallery Today!

Article Source: http://buyvoa.com/entertainment/tattoos/tattoomenow/

Tattoos are the ultimate in self expression. They make a statement about who you are and what you are about. Different tattoo designs have different meanings. Adaptations of various designs can add your own stamp to the body art so you can make your own statement.

Tribal Tattoos

Symbolizes belonging. The Tribal designs were by far the most popular, coming in with approximately one third of requests. In the past, tribal body art identified different tribes and were very important to the identity of the tribe and the individual. Today, tribal body art is an appealing fashion statement, that allow people to show off their individuality combined with a bit of mystery. These tats use aggressive dark lines in jagged symmetrical shapes and are most common in black and skin tones but can also be infused with color to brighten the overall look.

Stars

A symbol of protection and guidance. They are popular because they can go anywhere on the body and can be any size you want. They are also popular because they are timeless. Compass and nautical stars were very popular amongst sailors as they relied on stars to guide them on their journeys, so they used the tattoos as luck. These days, the meaning of stars depends on the number of points it has. The most popular places for the star designs are around the shoulder, ankles and navel.

Angels

Symbol of devotion, spirituality and faith. Angels are popular because they are very symbolic, representing many values such as peace, spirituality, and protection. Some of the more popular tattoo designs relate to Religion and Spirituality (due to angels being seen as the link between heaven and earth), Love, and the Struggle between good and evil.

Crosses

Strong religious symbolism. Popular as a symbol of faith, belief and hope. Crosses are popular because they can be effectively combined with other designs. The cross tattoo is very versatile because they look good most places on the body and small or big.

Wings

Symbol of spirituality and freedom. Wings are associated with angels, representing protection and guidance from above. Wings are also associated with butterflies, birds, dragons, fairies and a host of other animals. Wings represent freedom for many people and rising above problems. Some wing designs spread right across the back, which look very impressive. A popular place for women to get a wing tattoo design is on the lower back.

Where to get good designs

The next step is to look at some pictures or flash to get ideas to work from. A cost effective option is to download a package of thousands of popular designs from Chopper Tattoo. Then add your own touches to your favorite one for the artist to incorporate. That way you get top quality body art that is totally original for a fraction of the price it would cost for a tattoo design to be drawn up from scratch.