A culture as vibrant as of Mexico does not involve only singing and dancing. It involves many other aspects as well. One important part of this highly colorful heritage is Mexican tattoos, especially the Mexican flag tattoos.
History of Mexican Tattoos
Tattoos in the Mexican culture date back to the early 1300’s and perhaps before that. Both the Aztecs and the Mexica, along with other Mexican native tribes used tattoos as ornamental body decorations and as a way to intimidate foes during battle.
Types of Mexican Tattoos
Mexican tattoos are of different kinds based on different aspects, for example heritage, religious, political, social etc.
Religious Pride: Many Mexicans in the United States as well as Mexico have strong religious beliefs. Mexicans influenced by religion usually go for tattoos showing Christ, various saints, sacred heart and even the Virgin Mary.
Heritage pride: The Tattoos reflecting the Mexican heritage can be summarized as follows:
Aztec Pride: Aztec tattoos focus on symbols important to the original North American dwellers. These include the sun, sun god, other astrological symbols, symbols of sacrifice and particularly the Aztec dagger.
Regional Pride: The regional pride tattoos have the biggest following. Mexicans from certain provinces of Mexico, including Oaxaca, Michoacán, Sonora and Chihuahua are especially proud of their heritage. The tattoos of this kind include backgrounds of the shape of a particular region along with a foreground of a family crest or family surname.
Chilango Pride: It is a term referring to a person from Mexico City. The people of Mexico City are very proud of their Mexican and Spanish roots. Their tattoos mostly show the legend of eagle and snake as well as images of the sun god of Mexico. The Aztec influence on the Mexican culture is quite strong. The flag of Mexico also depicts the eagle and snake legend. Patriotism is the main cause of such Tattoos. Many Mexican immigrants, who have shifted for work or family, have found strong resistance from those who oppose their presence. Often, Mexican pride tattoos will feature symbols of the convergence of the Mexican and American flags, as if to promote better relations through communicating rather than fighting.
History of Mexican Flag
The Mexican flag shows an eagle eating a snake while sitting on the branch of a cactus plant. It describes the legend that the Mexican people were guided by Huitzilopochtli to seek a place where an eagle landed on a prickly-pear cactus, eating a snake. Many proud Mexicans will go through any amount of pain to have the flag of Mexico as a tattoo.
Mexican Flag as a Tattoo
Mexican flag tattoos can be drawn in various colors. They are lovely to look at and proud to be shown around, but it is definitely quite painful to get them. If not taken care of properly, they can lead to many skin infections. There prices depend on where are you getting the tattoo from and how experienced is your tattoo artist.
