FAQ Farmers have offered these:
I have a very old book c.1910 where an old sailor be moans the end of the sailors tattoo, yea right. he expounds that. " on the forearm the ports you've visited. on the wrist 'bracelets' on the upper arm the girls name or initials. on the lower leg the initials of all the girls you've 'had'." The "MOM" tattoo became popular during WWII as well as the "death before dishonour" dagger piercing the skin. but that's with the USN in the Royal Navy, and presumably the Commonwealth navies,this is my info; full rigged ship (on the back very large) for rounding the horn (cape horn), The anchor (fouled or not) for service in the Atlantic. All remaining tattoos except since 1970 are in this discussion. Many 'modern' sailors have put tattoos of their specility or of the distinctive badge they had earned. like having crossed hammers with wings for aircraft carrier mechanics, or the divers helmet for a diver,etc. As for crossing the line. None of us Shellbacks want to repete this trial! You get a card. but some of us wisely have the longitude and date as well as ship on our upper leg. So if we ever get mistaken for a pollywog we can "show a leg" (naval term for 'get up out of bed!'.). 119deg 6min 54sec East USS SAMUEL GOMPERS 19 SEP 1991
1000 miles per nautical star.
Hope and Homecoming. Sailors used to spot them when nearing land, which is why they factor into traditional american style tattoos
you can have piercings and/or tattoos in most any job, but to be respected as a professional it is a good idea to remove your piercings and cover your tattoos while at work
Jimmy Page has no tattoos or piercings.
Chest tattoos can be as varied as their owners. The most popular designs are frequently nautical and used by sailors. Dragons and birds, especially eagles, also figure prominently.
The beveled star or "nautical star" is seen often in early American traditional tattoos. It was first made popular by sailors. The star was used to represent the north star and coincided with finding one's way home.
Yes
Originally worn by sailors, and were then absconded by the "punk" and emo scene that the kids are so into this day in age. They have no meaning whatsoever anymore, and most true sailors don't get them anymore due to this sad trend.
Piercings and Tattoos
Went to PF Changs in Indy today and had a waitress with both piercings and tattoos. I thought it was pretty cool they would hire somebody with visible tattoos. =]
They shouldn't but at many places they will. Not all piercing and tattoos will effect though, such as women with ear piercings or tattoos that are normally not visable
Bluebirds and swallows are traditional nautical tattoos with a long history of use. They symbolise happiness and good fortune. The swallow was a tattoo a sailor got after traveling 5000 nautical miles.