Mexican Tattoo Art

Tattooing has come a long way from being a part of religious rituals, to become a fashion trend and a means of self-expression. Basically, tattooing is an ancient body art that was widely practiced for decorating the body and as a part of religious rites. In some civilizations, such as in the ancient Aztec civilization, tattoos were a part of religious rituals. It was also a mark of an individual's social status and a means to distinguish one tribe from another. Another important purpose of tattooing was to show a soldier's rank. The influence of such ancient civilizations is still evident in the tattoo art of Mexico. These tattoos are mainly based on the themes of ancient Aztec, Mayan and Inca art. Influence of all these cultures have made Mexican tattoo designs quite unique and striking.

Mexican Tattoo Designs

These tattoos include elements that reflect the rich culture and the history of Mexico. As mentioned already, a number of these designs are actually inspired and influenced by the Aztec, Mayan and Inca tattoos. Out of these, the influence of Aztec tattoos are more prominent. Aztecs inhabited Mexico from the 13th to the 16th century, and they used tattoos to decorate their body and to show their devotion to the gods. Tattoos were also used to show someone's status, as well as the rank or military achievements of the Aztec warriors.

Today, many Aztec gods, especially the Aztec sun god, 'Huitzilopochtli', and the Aztec god for weather, fertility and creativity, Quetzalcoatl has secured a special place in tattoo artwork of this country. Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs, who was considered as the most powerful among all gods. But apart from these ancient elements, Mexican designs has also incorporated modern elements.

Mexicans take pride in their country's rich cultural heritage. They prefer to exhibit the pride that they feel as Mexicans, by adorning their body with their national flag. This is the Mexican pride tattoo, which is especially a favorite among the Mexicans working in United States. This tattoo enables Mexicans to show their pride and respect for their culture and nation. Another popular Mexican tattoo is the portrayal of the famous Mexican festival the 'Day of the Dead', which is celebrated to honor their ancestors and the dead relatives. It can be termed as the Mexican ceremony or commemoration of both death and life. For this occasion, Mexicans simply love to tattoo their body with the Day of the Dead skull or sugar skull tattoos.

On the other hand, Mexican prison and gang tattoos has been a trend in the world of tattooing for quite some time. The mafia tattoos often include an eagle with a snake in its mouth. Even lettering has been found to feature in prison or gang related tattoos. As Mexican tattoo incorporates the elements of ancient Aztec tattoos, you can find a great number of Mexicans to adorn their body with the sun god 'Huitzilopochtli' and the powerful serpent god 'Quetzalcoatl'. Even the god of warriors, 'Tezcatlipoca' has inspired a great many tattoo designs among the Mexicans, along with the Aztec dagger.

Mexico is mainly a Catholic country and the influence of Christianity is evident in many Mexican art. The religious symbols such as 'Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe', or 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' is much-loved by the Mexicans for tattooing. It is the symbol of Virgin Mary, portrayed as a solemn woman, praying with her head bowed and hands clasped together and the entire body surrounded by golden light. On the other hand, Jesus Christ is usually depicted either in a sacred heart tattoo or with the cross. Males generally prefer the cross tattoos to wear on their chest, while the sacred heart tattoo is one of the favorites among women.
With the elements of both ancient and modern tattoos, Mexican tattoo patterns really look fascinating.

If you are interested in Mexican tattoos, be sure to take a professional tattoo artist's help. Also make sure to choose the tattoo that complements your personality, and wear it in a place that can truly enhance its visual appeal.