Tattoos can show who you are or what you care about.
tattoos are ancient. The oldest tattoo we know is from 5,000 years ago. It was about a frozen man in Italy.
Origins
Many cultures have tattoos. For example, in ancient times, people in Greece and Rome used tattoos to send messages or mark criminals. In Samoa and Polynesia, sailors had tattoos of their ships or dates to show who they were and where they grew up. The word “tattoo” comes from these languages.
Meanings
tattoos can mean different things. Some tattoos are just for looking good; others are for showing your beliefs.
One tattoo that many people have is the Sacred Heart. It is a picture of Jesus’ heart, showing his love. People from different cultures have had this tattoo a long time ago.
Another tattoo that people like is the laurel wreath. It is a circle of leaves that means victory, hope, and love. It is a good gift for someone you love.
Some people also have tattoos of animals or insects. They can mean different things too. For example, koi fish can mean peace, new life and new chances. Bats can mean good things in some cultures, even though they look scary.
Techniques
Tattooing takes work. It would help if you were good at drawing and using needles on the skin.
People from different places have different ways of making tattoos. Some ways are using sharp things to make holes in the skin or using needles to put ink in the skin. Some people even make their ink.
Some examples of different ways of making tattoos are:
* Maori people from New Zealand, Polynesian people from Samoa and Hawaii, and Inuit people from Canada and Alaska use needles with holes to make tattoos.
* Monks in Burma use long metal or glass sticks to make tattoos. They hit the skin with one hand very hard.
Popularity
Tattoos are more popular now than before. Many people see them on TV or online and want to have them too. Tattoos can show your personality and your style.
Some cultures do not like tattoos, but others think they are beautiful and calm. Tattoos can show what makes you unique and different.
More young people have tattoos now than older people. Almost half of young people think tattoos are fun.
More people have tattoos now than in 2012. Young people also like to have new and different tattoos, not the same ones as everyone else.
