Tattoo Ideas: Significance of the Rose Tattoo

You can get tattoo ideas from everything and everyone around you. Rose tattoos are probably one of the most popular and significant ones being showcased in almost all tattoo parlours around the world. The rose to the west is what the lotus is to the east: it symbolizes love. It has also been closely associated with beauty and women. During the 40s, sailors would have rose tattoos on their upper arm or on their chest to signify a loved one usually their wives, girlfriends or mothers whom they had to leave behind in order to serve their country. For these men life at sea was rough and these tattoos gave them the peace they needed in a highly symbolic manner.

Rose tattoos represent both the inner and outer beauty of women and life. There is just something about a rose that seems to exude everlasting beauty and what best way to express this by a permanent reminder of something beautiful on someone's skin. And with little accents to a tattoo you can easily change its meaning.

A tattoo of a rose with thorns can mean that the person who had it done does put too much emphasis on the external beauty but rather shows of a strong willed personality. It says, "You can look but you cannot touch."

The colour of the rose tattoo more often than not hold a meaning as well. It could be the favourite colour of the person to whom they are dedicating the tattoo. Or they could have simply based it on the emotions and meanings assigned to by the Victorians for each rose colour examples of which are:

Red for love, passion, romance and respect.

White for purity, spiritual love and innocence.

Pink is for youth, tenderness, grace and elegance.

Yellow is for friendship, joy, and devotion. Although historically the yellow rose depicts jealousy.

Purple is for enchantment. Sometimes used to represent love at first sight.

The simple addition of the thorn can reveal how people perceive love. Just like the rose, love is wonderful but you can get hurt or pricked. The thorns are reminders that love and life is not always easy.

Memorial or sentimental tattoo ideas almost always involve a rose. Mothers usually choose a rose for each child while children also choose a rose to remember their mothers by. Spiritually, the rose can also signify religion or the Virgin Mary to be specific. Catholics hold the Virgin Mary in the highest regard, she is the mother of mothers and so the tattoo of a rose in her honour is a sign of respect and love.

Getting a tattoo is not an easy process; in fact it is a very painful procedure. That is precisely why you should think about what you really want to get for a tattoo regardless of whether it is a rose or something else altogether. Remember that the process of removing a tattoo is more than twice the pain of getting it. And make sure that you go to a reputable tattoo parlour or artist who can help you with your tattoo ideas.

black rose tattoo

Getting a tattoo is always a very intimate affair. The reasons and sentiments behind the tattoo style and design and even the place where the tattoo is drawn, all differ from person to person. And among the myriad designs for tattoos available, flower tattoos have always been an eternal favorite among tattoo enthusiasts. The world of flower tattoos is dominated by rose tattoos to a great extent. Rose tattoos, initially considered only for men, are now seen sported stylishly by both men and women. This Buzzle article will focus on one particular type of rose tattoo: the black rose tattoo and its meaning. Let's see what this elegant tattoo can mean to different people.

Meaning of Black Rose Tattoo

The connotations that a rose tattoo has are numerous, but there are some generally accepted and understood meanings of a rose tattoo. The most popular meaning of a rose tattoo is love: pure, unadulterated love. This meaning was derived from beliefs that the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, bled on white roses (the original color of roses according to them) when a thorn pricked her, thus turning them red. Another meaning of a rose tattoo is unflinching honor, generally for a beloved left behind while the male was at war. Such meanings of rose tattoos are plenty, but what does a black rose tattoo denote? Why would someone get a black tattoo? What are they trying to say through these tattoos? Well, some possible answers to these questions are given below

Death and Sorrow
As you may have already guessed, the most common meaning of a black rose tattoo is death, grief and sorrow. Black is a color that is always associated with death. Hence, it only makes sense that a tattoo symbolizing love for a departed soul, be in black. People get black rose tattoos in respect of someone they love, after they pass away. Getting a black rose tattoo along with some text is one of the most common ideas that many people use to pay homage to special people.

Slavish Devotion
A black rose, if you have ever had the chance to come across one, is not exactly black. It is a dark shade of purple, thus giving it a black appearance. A completely black tattoo is impossible to find, it can only be created. Hence the term 'slavish devotion' is attributed to a back rose tattoo. This denotes the undying longing and wait for either an impossible task or the wait for a miracle to occur. So, in a nutshell, a black rose tattoo could also mean hope.

Rebellion
The early Irish warriors considered a black rose as a sign of rebellion against the British. This was because in those days, the red rose was considered as a very staunch British symbol. The Irish reprobated the red rose by using black roses during war. This was an extremely poetic sign of rebellion against the British empire, but then the Irish have always been adept at that, haven't they!

Completion of a Journey
In some cultures, getting a black rose tattoo can also refer to the end of a long and arduous journey. Many soldiers also get back rose tattoos after they return from a war or a situation that they did not expect to return from. So, in a sense, it is also a symbol of conquering a situation that was thought to be otherwise unconquerable. It also stands for a farewell that a person is bidding to someone, either due to death or the end of a relationship.

As you can see, black rose tattoo meaning does not necessarily have to revolve around morose and morbid sentiments, even though a majority of them do. They also stand for a sense of accomplishment, deference and of course, everlasting hope. Apart from these, every person may have a different personal reason for getting a black rose tattoo. So figure out what yours is and get one of these exquisite tattoos soon.