At the same time, just because Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox are at the Grammys with tattooed skin, does not mean parents are falling for it. Before a new adult gets a tattoo the big questions a parent will ask is, "Are you really going to want that when your seventy years old and your skin is sagging? " Or "Is that really what you want your kids to see when they're growing up? " Tattoos are still thought of as a rebellious act in some eyes. .
People get tattoos for hundreds of different reasons. One of which is to memorialize friends and loved ones that have died. Memorial tattoos date back to at least the Civil War days. Artists say interest was reignited following the September 11 attacks. Memorial tattoos honor the dead, and they help remind those left behind of their own mortality. Military and public service men and women are ranked among the highest groups in the tattooed America. .
Another reason for a tattoo is to symbolize something. The koi fish represents courage, strength, and perseverance in Japanese mythology. People are telling stories on their skin. Tattoos, such as Celtic crosses, or Celtic knots, can symbolize someone's Irish heritage. Some police officers and firefighters have gotten tattoos to symbolize the September 11 attacks. A firefighter may get a Maltese cross tattoo to symbolize his or her pride in serving with the fire department. Soldiers may also show pride in their unit, or their love for a fallen comrade, with a symbolic tattoo.
Then there are those who get their tattoos because of their love of the art form. Some people just enjoy displaying their thoughts and feelings in the form of tattoos, believing that they are like little windows to the soul. Each tattoo tells a story about the individual. Even the placement of a tattoo can sometimes be significant. Tattoos over the heart, or on your chest, are often representations of devotion and love. Back tattoos are symbolic of things that are in your past.
