What are Spooky Tattoos?
Halloween has been a big deal in the Western world, but not so much in India. With the wave of Westernization brought along by the youth, particularly the millennials, there have been many people celebrating this holiday in metropolitan cities.
Even though Halloween symbols don’t have the same meaning here as they do in Western countries, many people love to get these symbols tattooed on themselves, as it gives off a certain gothic, spooky vibe. Some may even get these designs as a homage to horror and mystery, one of the most famous and well-loved genres of movies around the world.
Following is a list of some of the eerie and ghostly designs you can get tattoos of:
Jack-o’-lanterns
Young people who were selected to disguise themselves and roam around the town, guiding off spirits who dare to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the place, used hollowed-out turnips with candles to guide them. Eventually, the tradition changed to hollowing out pumpkins, because they were bigger. An ancient Irish legend talks about ‘Stingy Jack’, a drunk and prankster, who fulfilled the impossible task of angering both God and the Devil. When he died, neither heaven nor hell accepted his spirit, and hence he was made to stay on Earth with only a hollow turnip with a candle to guide his road.
Ghosts
The ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain celebrated the end of autumn and the start of winter, and also the time when the barrier between the living and the dead was the weakest. This phenomenon caused many dead people, in the form of ghosts or spirits, to roam the world once again and visit their living family. In Mexico, this activity happens during ‘El Dia de Los Muertos’, shown in the Disney movie Coco. The Mexican symbolism is of remembrance, sadness, and celebration, unlike the Occidental traditions.
Skeletons
Again, the symbolism of the dead comes into play in this image. Skeletons were generally used in horror movies as the white outline on a black background looked good on the big screen. A new trend emerges in this design, in which animal skeletons like cats, dogs, or birds are also tattooed.
Witches
The silhouette of a witch riding into the moonlight on a broom is one of the most famous images. Witches were originally seen as healers, but as the tide turned, the imagery changed to those who do evil work and threaten other people and their loved ones. The Salem Witch trials enforced this new horrific definition of the witches. Over the years, many people, especially women, took up this image for themselves to seem rebellious.
Bats and Cats
These seemingly inconspicuous animals have been given spooky characteristics over the years. Bats are shown to be the animal form of vampires, owing to the vampire bats and their blood-sucking way of nutrition. Black cats were known as the ‘familiars’ of witches and were said to be the animal form of them. Black cats are known to be unlucky in some cultures, and very auspicious in others.
Halloween is a festival for people to come together and celebrate ancient traditions. It is also a way for children to enjoy themselves through dressing up and going ‘trick-or-treating’. These symbols have been growing in popularity, and one can get these tattoos from tattoo shops in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Vizag, etc. What are you waiting for? Celebrate your scariness by getting a Halloween tattoo today!
