Tattoo Pride Day

Ok, I don’t have a tattoo, nor do I want one. I’m one of those people who has to think long and hard about something that can’t be changed if I decide I’ve made a huge oops. My daughter has quite a few tattoos and some she really hates. She loved them when she was 19 but now that she’s in her 30’s she has regrets. She’s tried having two of them removed. She says it’s way more painful than having children and will have to think and think and think about it before she tries having anything else removed.

But, apart from my personal opinion about tattoos, I have seen some really gorgeous tattoos here in New Zealand where tattooing is a tradition amongst the Maori people. Their tattoos are their identity and they don’t appreciate their tattoos being copied. One Maori woman explained it this way, “You say that copying our tattoos is a form of flattery, but if someone stole your wallet (your identity) you wouldn’t assume they did it because they wanted to flatter you.” Facial tattoos are not common but nearly everyone has a traditional tattoo somewhere on their body.

The male facial tattoo – Moko – is generally divided into eight sections :

1. Ngakaipikirau (rank). The center forehead area
2. Ngunga (position). Around the brows
3. Uirere (hapu rank). The eyes and nose area
4. Uma (first or second marriage). The temples
5. Raurau (signature). The area under the nose
6. Taiohou (work). The cheek area
7. Wairua (mana). The chin

Here are some cool tattoos to celebrate Tattoo Pride Day, January 11th.

Isn’t this classy?

This is nice but I think I’d like some color in there.

Feminine and delicate and one that will never need to be removed.

This is the most vain person I’ve ever seen!

This is just spooky. Imagine what HIS mother said??

Traditional Maori warrior tattoo.

Maori women outline their lips and tattoo their chins.

I included this just cause we get a peek at her plumber’s butt.