The Symbolism Behind A Sparrow Tattoo

With the Pirates of the Caribbean movies being so popular, you might notice more and more people who chose to get tattoos choosing sparrow tattoos. That's not just because the main character, anti-hero Jack Sparrow, happened to have one. Sparrow tattoos have been around long before Jack Sparrow. They have a very specific symbolism which many people find touching. These sparrow tattoos can then be visual poems on skin. The unconscious can respond to these symbols just like they would respond to images in a dream.

True Love

Sparrows are thought to mate for life, although some recent scientific studies have thrown this old chestnut into doubt. However true the notion may be, it is ingrained in most societies that sparrows mate for life. This is admired by those who've had to suffer monogamy and find the sparrow a great comfort and inspiration. When used in this way, the sparrow tattoo often features two sparrows instead of just one.

Protection For Sailors

In the old days, sailors got a sparrow tattoo for every 50,000 miles they traveled by sea. This was a permanent resume if there ever was one! There was also a legend - and this one has some scientific backing - that sparrows will always know the way home. So, no matter how far a sparrow tattoo wearer may roam, he or she will always somehow find a way to return to the ones they love. There is also another notion that sparrows are just fond of sailors. When a sailor saw a swallow flying over the waters, that was a telltale sign that they were near land.

Freedom

An ex-prisoner or a survivor of abuse may choose to get a sparrow tattoo, to remind them that they survived their time of imprisonment but are now free. Sparrows, as well as birds in general, can also symbolize the souls' freedom from the body. In Ancient Egypt, it was thought that sparrows acted like a psychopomp, bringing the souls of the dead to rest among the stars. Some might get a sparrow tattoo as a poetic reminder and tribute to all of their beloved dead.

In these recent times, many species of sparrow are greatly endangered. Even the common house sparrow of England - once the most common bird - is now threatened with extinction. For those who work for the environment, a swallow tattoo is a reminder to keep on fighting. And then, some people get a swallow tattoo for reasons they will never tell.

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