Tattooing is the art of inserting pigment beneath the dermis layer of the skin to create a decorative, symbolic, or pictorial design, and on National Tattoo Day, July 17, we dedicate time to learning more about the tattooing process and its cultural significance and history. If you don’t have a tattoo, you probably know someone who does, and if you’ve asked them how they knew when they were getting inked if they would still want that design on their skin years or decades later, you may have received a strange expression rather than an explanation. There is undoubtedly a fraternal bond between people with tattoos, a bond that those without tattoos will never truly comprehend. We asked a correspondent to comment on this phenomenon, and he stated, “Tattoos began as a ceremony, and they continue to function similarly. It is similar to a devotional experience to be tattooed by a skilled artist. It’s akin to the “Aha!” moment that people speak about in business. It sheds light on something you could not see before.”
The background of National Tattoo Day
National Tattoo Day has been observed for only a few years, but the craft of tattooing dates back millennia. The ‘Iceman,’ or Otzi, the natural skeleton discovered in glacial ice in the Alps in 1991 and carbon-dated to 3250 B.C., was covered with 61 tattoos, according to archaeological evidence. As early as 1500 B.C., Austronesian-speaking peoples were the most common practitioners of ancient tattooing. They engaged in tattooing practises, including facial tattoos that, according to some contemporary scientists, were associated with headhunting among warring indigenous communities. In 17th-century Europe, ‘painted’ individuals were occasionally kidnapped from their native countries and placed on public display, with the European abductors charging for each viewing. The explorer William Dampier took his tattooed slave Jeoly, also known as the ‘Painted Prince,’ on a lengthy tour to demonstrate and profit from Jeoly’s tattoos.
Martin Hildebrandt opened the first tattoo parlour in the United States in New York City in 1846, and both Union and Confederate personnel frequented his establishment. In 1975, there were only 40 tattoo artists in the United States, but by 1980, that number had increased to 5,000. Today, tattoo parlours can be found in every metropolis and small town in the United States, and on July 17, we recognise their contribution to American culture.
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National Tattoo Day Events
Get a tattoo
Today is the ideal time to get body art if you’ve been contemplating it. Just be sure to do your research to locate a reputable shop and artist, and be well-rested on the day of the event.
Substitute your stylus with a tattoo gun
If you’re a visual artist who doesn’t do much erasing and have been contemplating purchasing a tattoo machine and practising on a few acquaintances, National Tattoo Day is the perfect time to begin. Ensure that you have completed your apprenticeship before applying.
Examine online examples of ink
Some tattoos are absolutely stunning. Others, such as misspelt messages, can be very amusing. On National Tattoo Day, explore the Internet to see what body art you can discover. Use the hashtag #NationalTattooDay to share what you find on National Tattoo Day.
5 INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT TYPES OF TATTOOS
By diluting black ink with distilled water, tattoo artists are able to obtain lighter tones for shading their designs.
Technology advancements have enabled tattoo artists to use ultra-thin lines, which is particularly beneficial for portrait tattoos.
Watercolour tattoos, so-called because they imitate the splatters of colour and shading gradations of the brush-and-paper variety, frequently vanish due to the small amount of ink used in their creation.
The growing prevalence of new-school tattoos, which are inspired by cartoons and anime and are not’modern’ per se, is a revival of their ’80s and ’90s popularity.
A red koi tattoo signifies affection and vitality, while a black koi tattoo represents overcoming a significant obstacle.
NATIONAL TATTOO DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | July 17 | Monday |
2024 | July 17 | Wednesday |
2025 | July 17 | Thursday |
2026 | July 17 | Friday |
2027 | July 17 | Saturday |