Nautical Star Tattoos: A Safe Voyage Tattoo?

Nautical star tattoos have some very interesting stories behind them. They’re very stylish, yes, but they are also a major art form that goes back for at least a century. It’s not a new thing, by any means.

Most people believe that the tradition of tattooing nautical stars started with Spanish sailors. The North Star is, of course, a major landmark for sailors. It was used to guide them home. It’s thought that they began wearing nautical star tattoos to bring them good luck and encourage a safe voyage. In modern times, though, the meaning behind the tattoo has changed quite a bit.

Today, nautical stars are worn often by the gay and lesbian community. In times when homosexuality wasn’t widely accepted, especially for women, girls often got a nautical star tattooed someplace they could easily cover by day and reveal by night. For instance, sometimes they got a very small one on their wrist and covered it with a watch at times that they didn’t want it to be seen.

Another use for the nautical star as a tattoo is by the military. Like the old sailors, military members believe that it can bring them luck and guide them home in one piece. They look at it as a symbol of honor between themselves. It’s a sign of brotherhood.

So, no matter why you want one, you have to admire the tattoo’s colorful history. Nautical star tattoos make a real statement, so think about getting one and really expressing some personality!