What do Sailor Jerry tattoos mean?
For a sailor, ships are both practical and metaphorical. Sailor Jerry loved ships and held master papers on every major type of vessel. His legendary clipper ship tattoos represent both the call to adventure and the determination to be “Homeward Bound”.
What tattoo do sailors get when they cross the equator?
Shellback turtle
An anchor tattoo symbolizes a Sailor’s crossing of the Atlantic. Sailors may get a Shellback turtle once they have crossed the equator and get initiated into ‘King Neptune’s Court’.
What does tooth tattoo mean?
In addition to nourishing our body, the tooth tattoo can represent a nourishment of the soul. In the ways we chew and nourish our body with food, intelligence and wisdom is the food for the soul, so a tooth tattoo can also be a reminder to keep feeding the soul with goodness and wisdom.
Why are tattoos associated with sailor?
Tattoos with sailors can be traced back as far as the 1700s when Captain James Cook came across the Maori of the South Pacific, and his crew decided to get tattoos as “souvenirs” of their visit. However, if they later decided to join the navy they had to have a tattoo artist “dress” the woman.
Why did sailors get mermaid tattoos?
The girls tattooed on these men were a reminder of the ladies that waited for their safe return back home. Mermaids: These half-women, half-fish creatures were said to seduce sailors into the sea to their eventual death by luring them with their enchanting songs.
What did Sailor Jerry’s eagle tattoo mean to him?
For Sailor Jerry, as a patriot who was acutely aware of (and vocal about) the shortcomings of his country, the Eagle was a symbol of his idealized America. A country that stands with the courage of its convictions and backs down for no one. Jerry’s eagle tattoos are fierce and iconic, often depicted in association with the flag.
Why does Sailor Jerry have a shark on his arm?
Sailor Jerry’s attitude toward sharks embodied those of many a sailor. You want to hate ’em, but you gotta love ’em. Sometimes animal tattoos are about taking on its traits. A lion shows you’re brave. A panther shows you’re tough. But a shark’s more about what you overcome. A shark on your arm says you’re willing to stand your ground.
What was Sailor Jerry’s favorite snake to ink?
Sailor Jerry’s favorite snake to ink was a King Cobra. Panthers are usually inked as totems of prowess and virility, sometimes also symbolizing a connectedness to nature.
What does the word return mean on a sailor’s tattoo?
This “return” symbolism is rooted in two ideas. The first was the swallow’s famous migration pattern, always returning home to San Juan Capistrano. Second, it was believed that if a sailor dies at sea, birds carry his soul home to heaven.