Floral Tattoos
From LoveToKnow Tattoos
Many people choose their tattoos for the spiritual, cultural or familial reason behind their image. Others, however, choose their tattoos for their beauty - which is often the case with floral tattoos.
Floral Tattoos in History
Just as tattoos themselves started out as a primarily male phenomenon, floral tattoos also started out as tattoo designs for men. Sailors, anticipating a long trip out at sea, might get a rose tattoo as reminders of beloved wives or mothers back home. Flowers were also used as filler for other tats, such as those of pin up girls or heart designs. Since flowers are predominant in other forms of art, such as painting and sketching, no stigma was attached to a male having flower tats the way there can be today.
Flower Meanings
Many people choose floral images for beauty or because they are partial to a certain bloom. However, people have attached symbolic meanings to different flower species, which can be a good guide to choosing your floral tattoo. There are more flowers out there than just the typical rose, and many have beautiful symbolic meanings. Here are just a few of the more popular choices:
- Roses have different meanings depending on their color. Red is the most popular, meaning I love you.
- Daisies: innocence and purity
- Carnations: a woman's love
- Pansies: thoughtfulness, amusement
- Poppies: pleasure
- Violets: faithfulness, choosing to be happy
- Lilies: virginity, sweetness
- Daffodils: true love
- Tulips: believe in me
- Lotus: religious meaning to Buddhists and Hindus
- Bluebell: everlasting love
- Dahlia: good taste, but unstable
- Forget me Not : remembrance
- Ivy (although not really a flower): wedded love, friendship and affection
Floral Tats Today
Today, more women are getting tattooed, and more flower tats are being inked than ever. The choices are seemingly endless, from a realistic full-color photographic image to a black tribal floral design. Some people even choose a great works of art, such as Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" tattoo, as the ultimate floral statement. Flowers can be incorporated into many different tattoo styles and imagery, making them a great accent to other pieces or even used as filler in full sleeve tattoos. Finally, henna tattoos often use floral schemes in their elaborate designs known as mandalas, which are gaining popularity in the United States.
Floral Tats and Religion
One floral tat that is especially popular is the lotus flower. A beautiful bloom, the lotus is also known as a "Sacred Water Lily". It is an aquatic flower, meaning it grows on lakes and ponds just like the typical lily pad. The sacred lotus, once it goes to seed, also becomes a food source for many people in Asia, and the flower itself is used in ancient Asian medicine.
The lotus is sacred to those who believe in Hindu religion, as it is believed to have developed from the gods churning the sea - which produced this beautiful bloom with the goddess Lakshmi riding upon it. Buddhists have also adopted this flower for its beauty and spiritual cleansing properties.
People choose to get a lotus floral tat to show their Hindu roots, or in hopes that the flower will transfer some of its calming properties to the wearer.
Learn More About Floral Designs
- Meanings and Legends of Flowers offers tons of information about what specific blooms mean.
- Looking for some beautiful flower tattoo designs? Try Tattoodles, where they showcase some beautiful artwork.
Learn More
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