National Tattoo Story Day

National Tattoo Story Day is a celebration of stories related to tattoos. It has been on September 16th since 2015. For many people, tattoos are not just a way to stand out among the crowd. They are in honor of significant life events.

History

Tattooing is an ancient art that appeared about 100-60 thousand years ago. People decorated their bodies with drawings for various reasons: to show belonging to a tribe or to strengthen their morale through a physical drawing.

The word ‘tattoo’ known today was popularized by the outstanding navigator James Cook after visiting the Polynesian Islands. There he got to know the local tribes, who had the word ‘tatau’ – the literal translation is ‘drawing’.

The spread of tattooing in the United States occurred in the 1940s. Norman Keith Collins, a war veteran, combined all the knowledge gained in different countries and created the American tattoo style. These were small but colorful drawings that were often accompanied by quotes from films or books. Mainly blue and red pigment was used.

A tattoo is a way for a person to express their attitude to the world, to forever remember significant events. They can depict whole pictures or be small drawings or just an inscription. Behind every tattoo lies the story of its owner.

Interesting facts

• Tattoos have been found on many Egyptian mummies.
• There are opinions that the famous Roman emperor Caligula, for the sake of entertainment, ordered his entourage to get ridiculous tattoos.
• The tattoo machine was invented in 1891 by Samuel O’Reilly. He based it on an Edison copy machine.

How to take part

If you have long wanted to have art on your body, National Tattoo Story Day is a great opportunity to fulfill your dream. On this holiday, you can sit on forums of tattoo lovers and chat with different people, find the answers to all your questions, and listen to their stories about their tattoos.

Create a social media post by attaching a photo of your tattoo and share it with people. Find out more about existing tattoo styles online. Maybe you will find a suitable option for yourself!

When is National Tattoo Story Day in 2024?

National Tattoo Story Day is observed on September 16 each year.

Observations