What is the symbolism of a seagull?

Answer 1

The seagull is associated with Lir, a Sea-God in Celtic lore. Like many birds, the seagull flies between the earth and the "heaven" world, bringing messages from the Gods to mortals. Gulls are highly intelligent with a complex social structure developed partly to ward off predators and can represent feelings of safety, the security of home, or a close-knit family/community in certain dream interpretations. Gulls live in colonies and sometimes utilize tools and although they are equally clever, are not symbolically associated with trickery and thievery the way that crows and ravens are in many cultures.

Answer 2

There is a lot of conflicting origin stories to this particular tattoo, but here are the most agreed upon that I have always read and been told throughout my career.

One of the most acknowledged meanings to the tattoo is that sailors would have a swallow put on their chest after completing 5,000 sea miles and one on the other side after completing 10,000 sea miles. So in the end, it was a mark of your career and to your love of the sea. Right behind this meaning, is the second most agreed upon meaning, which is; if a sailor drowned at sea, the birds on either side of his chest would lift him up to heaven. Thirdly, swallows have always been representative to sailors that they are close to land and it is a sign of a safe return home, so some would get it simply for that reason, as they put faith in it to get them home. Since swallows are known for traveling far distances out to see and have the habit of resting on ships, it was always a sign of good fortune. In this instance, it is nearly comparable to getting a pig and a rooster on your feet, as these animals would be kept in wooden crates and when a ship went down, they popped up to the surface. So the rationale was, that if you got them on your feet, you'd pop up to the surface too.