Saturday, August 28, 2010

The History of Tahitian Tattoos

The History of Tahitian Tattoos
Tahiti can be a common thought when you hear the word "tropical". Tahiti is located in the Pacific Ocean and is the largest island out of a group that is located in Polynesia. Tahiti can be the ideal location for those who are looking for a perfect tropical getaway. The population is less than 200,000 people and the temperatures are not too extreme.

While Tahiti has been colonized by the French, their culture has remained and includes Tahitian tattoos. They are based around the culture as well as the Marquesas Islands which are also islands that are located in the French Polynesia.

Tattoos in Tahiti are common in both men and women and it surprising that women are more tattooed than men and are historical as well. It was during a passage of rites ceremony that took place at a temple made of stone. This still happens in Tahiti however tattooing is no longer performed with the process. Rectangular blocks are still the most common Tahitian tattoos and they can often be found in spots such as the torso or the inner arm of a male. In some cases, the hands can also have geometric shapes tattooed on them and some may look like a "w" or an "x".