Tattoos: Where Do They Come From and Why the Obsession?

tat·too

 [ta-too] noun, plural -toos, verb, -tooed, -too·ing.

1. The act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc., by making punctures in it and inserting pigments.

Origin:
1760–70;  < Marquesan tatu;  r. tattow  < Tahitian tatau

For thousands of years the world has had a fascination (and love) with tattoos – from the inland tribes of Indonesia who created the first tribal tattoos we know today, to the juice monkeys of 2010 getting Celtic symbols on their backs.

There are many cultures who are credited to have been the original tattooed peoples:  from Ancient Egyptians with dotted marks on their bodies to Siberian mummies covered in mythical animals, to Mayan markings of their idols.

Historically, tattoos were attained to display ones courage (South America), strength (India) and good health (Hawaii).They were also said to have magical charms for those who had them, at least according to deductions made on excavations of ancient Pazyryk peoples.
In other cases (Japan) they were applied strictly as decoration and were a true art form. This appreciation for the craft has carried into the 21st century by much of the world’s youth, with the development of new shows with tattoos at their center.

Due to the wide spread of popular culture, tattoos have become more "mainstream" and appealing to a wider group of people, thanks in large parts to shows like Miami Ink and LA Ink on TLC. These two shows capture the everyday lives of the tattoos artists and their clients - allowing those who had no interest in the art previously, a chance to see what the tattoo experience is like. 

Both of these reality shows have opened many eyes all around the world by airing on popular TV stations within the major areas. The shows both air on TLC, catering a large American audience; on Discovery Channel, which airs through all the main regions of Europe; and also on People and Arts which airs in Latin America, Portugal, Spain and Brazil - just to name a few.

Tattoos are used still used as a way of self expression, much like their historical beginnings. In many cases you can tell a little of a person’s life story by simply seeing their tattoos. Every tattoo has a story behind, is whether it is deeply personal or impersonal. It's history set in stone flesh.

Psst - Watch the fun video below!