German people have a vast tattoo heritage. They are also very proud people, and they will try to represent Germany whenever and wherever they can. Germans are not the only people in the world that do that by a long shot. However, in this article, we will be focusing on the tradition and meanings of German tattoos.
There are many various symbols in the German culture that serve as symbols for the people who live there. Some are obvious in both style and color, while others may not be as commonly known to everyone. We will explore what the most popular types of German tattoos are, their meanings and give you some ideas about what your next German tattoo can be.
Contents
The Meaning Of German Tattoos
The meaning of a German tattoo is similar to the purposes of other countries. It is a symbol of pride for your nationality. However, it is not only people who were born there. There are a lot of people who just like the style and others that have family histories with German roots. Whatever the reason for having a German tattoo, you can be assured that you will find some great ideas through their symbology and stylistic approaches. Some of the symbols are aimed a little more at specific groups of people, while others are more generic and widespread.
We will now look at the important symbols that the people of Germany and others who have connections, even if emotional. We will also show you some of our favorite styles, too.
German Flag
The German flag is obviously one of the most popular ways to show your pride as a German. They are hugely recognizable with their striking color contrasts. The black red and gold horizontal bars of the national flag is one of a kind, with only Belgium being close, as they have the same colors but vertically.
There are many variations of the German flag tattoo, ranging from the basic blocks, to items and animals in the same pattern, to the ripped skin look, making it look like you have Germany through and through.
German Coat Of Arms
It is a bit of a battle between the flag and coat of arms as to which is the most popular. However, as for which you like the most is purely personal. Most of the coats of arms have the black eagle on top of a golden banner. The eagle is looking to the side, with a red beak, tongue, and red talons. The eagle, or the Bundesadler, is one of the oldest state symbols in the world, and the history of the eagle is even older. It originates from an emblem given to the Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope in the year 800, and it is a derivative of the eagle standard of the Roman Army.
There is a considerable history with this symbol in Germany, and it is easy to see why it is one of the most popular tattoos.
Iron Cross Tattoo
The iron cross is a controversial tattoo that you will still see people get. The reason it is so controversial is that it was a military decoration in Nazi Germany. However, that is not the only time that it was used, and it was not only for the military. Some civilians were given the Iron cross for some tasks, and it was also used in the Kingdon of Prussia. You should always think carefully before getting such a tattoo, as you are likely to have some questions asked of you. However, if you have a valid reason that is not connected to Nazi Germany, you may still want to consider it.
Conclusion
There are not a huge number of tattoos that you can have as a symbol of Germany because of what a lot of the symbols have meant in the past. However, some of these that we have shown here certainly are very beautiful, and the people who have German heritage and tattoos should be very proud of them. We can only hope that the stigma of some of their symbols will disappear in the future, but unfortunately, that is unlikely. However, it is not only their skin that they use to show off their pride. Germans also use their clothes, and there is a substantial German clothing brand that has taken the tattoo community by storm, read about it at www.skingiants.com.
