Why swallow tattoos

Since swallows are migratory birds that fly long distances, the tattoo can also mean returning home after an arduous trial in life. For those who want to showcase their colorful side, the watercolor swallow tattoo should be the one that resonates. The vibrance of the colors paired with the symbolism of the bird is a great combination to showcase your personality. You can also choose a watercolor swallow tattoo to signify your triumph over great hardship. Since swallows mate for life, they also symbolize love and loyalty to family.

Two swallows flying together is the perfect couple tattoo to signify long journeys and adventures in the path of life. You can choose to add a flair to the symbolic gesture and personalize it at the same time by adding different colors to the two birds. A favorite of all travelers, this tattoo signifies freedom and a keen sense of adventure. The placement of the tattoo is also extremely important—most people choose to get it done on the neck or shoulder as it has a higher vantage point.

This signifies the will to travel far and wide! If you want your tattoo to portray the softer side of you, you can choose a swallow tattoo accompanied by a flower of your choice.

A rose depending on the color can signify love in its various forms, a daisy can symbolize purity and innocence. This is a great way to add a personal touch to the tattoo while also adding depth to its meaning. Since you can choose from a variety of different swallows and flowers, the possibilities are almost endless! We all have a text or a quote that has resonated with the core of our being.

If you want to add words that have inspired you or just a line that is quintessentially you, this is a great option. The swallow sailor tattoo was typically placed on the chest, hand or arm. According to legend, a swallow tattoo guaranteed that the sailor would return home safely. Some even got a swallow tattoo when they set sail and had another swallow tattoo when they returned to their home port. Some believed that if the sailor drowned at sea the swallows would carry his soul to heaven.

Modern swallow tattoos range from a simple outline, a silhouette of the bird in flight or intricate designs with detailed feathers in shades of blues or greens with orange or red splashes on the undersides of the bird. They may be combined with roses or other flowers, hearts, banners or slogans to further enhance their meaning.

The swallow tattoo can have a variety of meanings. Some of the most common swallow symbolism includes:. Both the swallow and the sparrow can represent freedom, undying love or commitment to one person or loyalty, but the sparrow tattoo traditionally represented the mafia and is generally worn on the arm.

The swallow has a forked tail with long curved wings and is generally portrayed in shades of blue or green, while the sparrow is a plump, brown bird with a short rather stout tail. This helps explain why swallow tattoos have grown into a popular fad. Not only do people find their attractive designs appealing, they are also drawn by the deeper symbolism in having swallows tattooed on their bodies. Certain species of swallow can travel long distances while migrating every year.

This has led swallow tattoos to be linked with travel and homecoming, making it a frequent choice for travelers and adventurers. A conventional tattoo of two swallows symbolizes a long journey. Historically, British sailors used swallow tattoos to boast of their extensive travel experience. A legend claims that the tattoo of a single swallow implies that the wearer has sailed five thousand nautical miles, and that two swallows represent 10, miles at sea — no mean feat in the 17th or 18th centuries when sea travel was risky and fraught with danger.

But even shorn of that honor, it stands for some important qualities and characters that mean a lot to the wearer. Some sailors considered a swallow tattoo to be a lucky charm, lending hope of a safe, happy homecoming after an extended voyage across the ocean.

Some had a swallow etched when they crossed the equator on a ship — and then got another one done when they returned! The 7 mutineers who initiated the revolt had a swallow tattooed on their chests so they could recognize each other. Swallows are also closely associated with Spring, the season of fresh hope , awakening and renewal. In Egyptian poetry, it is often a swallow that brings the first signs of new love. So a swallow tattoo represents the revival of hope and love.

Two lovers might display swallow tattoos on their bodies as an expression of their deep rooted affection for each other. And, of course, the swallow symbolizes freedom.