Although tattoos have been in vogue in recent years and it may seem that it is something relatively recent, the truth is that everything related to skin ornamentation has been done since ancient times. Primitive men already tattooed their skin for different reasons and this distinguished them from the other species of the animal kingdom. The ethnic or tribal designs are the oldest and have their origin in tribes such as the Celts, the Maori or the inhabitants of the islands that make up Polynesia.
The origin of the word tattoo is found in these tribes, specifically in those of Polynesia. This word has its origin in the concept "tatau" which means to mark on the leather. Today, ethnic tattoos are a trend and many people opt for this kind of designs in order to wear them somewhere on their body.
Meaning of ethnic or tribal tattoos
As we have already mentioned above, Ethnic tattoos have their origin thousands of years ago when man was still in tribes. Tattoos were used to differentiate one tribe from another and had their own meaning. It is true that the ethnic tattoos of antiquity have little to do with those that are done today.
Traditional ethnic tattoos were very varied and different from each other. This was essential when it came to differentiating the different tribes. Today, ethnic or tribal designs are not as varied and almost all follow the same pattern when it comes to their design. Its symbolism or meaning served to distinguish a person from one tribe or another.
- These tattoos also served to reflect the social status of the person within the tribe itself.
- Ethnic tattoos also showed the religious belief of the person.
- In some cases, the tattoos were intended to help humans camouflage themselves in the forest and be able to go unnoticed in front of different enemies.
To this day, this kind of tattoos are still being made, especially in men and set trends in this world. Then we are going to tell you a little about the kinds of ethnic tattoos that exist today.
Maori tattoos
Maori tattoos originate from New Zealand and tribes used to make such ethnic designs on the face, on the arms and on the legs. The most striking were made on the face and indicated the social status of the person. The meaning of these tattoos was to master the inner strength.
Haida Tattoo
The Haida were an American tribe characterized by having animal tattoos on their skin. The designs were made on parts of the body such as the arms, chest or back. This tribe thought that by tattooing a specific animal, they could have the strength of that animal. Haida tattoos are mostly male and symbolize the strength of man in the face of all adversity.
Ethnic Polynesian tattoos
All the people who lived in Polynesia, They had tattooed areas of the body such as the arms, legs or chest. Ethnic tattoos symbolized religious beliefs and everything related to the person's family. These types of tattoos are famous for being quite painful, so the man who had a large part of his body tattooed was considered a strong and powerful person.
At present, ethnic and tribal tattoos have little to do with what the tribes were made of. Today these kinds of designs are more aesthetic than symbolic. The design usually combines modern elements with some more traditional ones and using quite thick lines. As with traditional tattoos, black is the color that prevails at all times.