It has been that way throughout history. Usually, hawks and eagles are associated with freedom but swallows are those that represent inquisition, curiosity, and will to explore. Both Greek and Roman ancient mythologies proposed that swallows are associated with the afterlife and that they represent the departure of the human soul. Additionally, some Gods from the two ancient mythologies could transform themselves into swallows to explore the world.
In sense of that, many people who opt to tattoo a swallow decide to do so to mark their transformation or departure from the old ways of life. That said, a lot of people tattoo the swallow to connect with their spirit animal at a deeper level.
Similarly to the exploration, the journey symbolism relates to the migrating aspect of swallow birds. Sailors used to tattoo swallows on each side to mark the long journey that they need to pass to get to the final destination. Safety is another trait of the swallows.
It is another trait that is associated with the sailors and travelers, so we freely can say that swallows are a species of bird that works like a lucky charm and protector of the travelers in particular. Many sailors tattoo the swallows because they believe that swallows will provide them with protection that will ensure their safety while they are on the sea.
Many people who travel a lot, use their swallow tattoos to seek protection and safety while they are on the road. Those people have a lot of empathy for them, and they feel with everyone that they know and care about on a higher level. Similarly, the swallow tattoo is attached to the people who are deeply connected to their friends and family members and feel the need to express that affection, care for them, and protect them from any harm. Similar meaning can be given to love relationships and significant others who are looking forward to each other and willing to offer safe harbor to one another.
For many people, freedom is a different concept and as such, a lot of people are willing to give up a lot of things to find freedom. Fidelity is another definition of the faithfulness of one person who is loyal to another, just in higher and stronger meaning. Fidelity obliges people to feel loyal towards the people and causes that they believe in.
Fidelity is an important symbolism of swallows that many will gladly tattoo on themselves. People also get confused when they tattoo black and white tattoos. If you opt for a vibrant and vivid color, then identifying the two becomes quite easier. Both birds are used as totems and have quite similar meanings.
Some of them are loyalty, love, affection, and empathy, especially towards friends and family members. Both birds also symbolize love and passion in relationships and marriages. The swallows are significantly larger compared to the sparrows, and there are also key differences in the colors of both birds. Swallow has a blue back and dark tail, which also makes it easily mistaken for other bluebirds.
On the other hand, sparrows are small, have dark cheeks, and a set of brown and creamy patterns that describe them. Also, swallows have orange-like cheek which makes them easily distinguished in nature. Swallow also has a long black tail that looks sophisticated, and gives it some additional elegance, while the sparrows have small tails that are also brown like the rest of their body. However, a lot of people want to make their swallow tattoos stick and be easily recognizable.
Below, you can check some popular places for tattooing a swallow, which may help you with making your own choice. Make sure to check them out and consult your tattoo artist on how the result would look like. This tattoo may not be as detailed as some other swallow tattoo, but it still represents a one of a kind symbolism of courage and freedom which stand behind the wings of a swallow.
This tattoo looks simplistic, minimalistic, and yet lovely enough to perfectly fit with other, healed tattoos on the arm. You can easily tell this one apart from the sparrow, even though the ink is dark, somewhere between black and navy.
This tattoo looks ridiculously similar to the one we detailed above. Nevertheless, this one is more detailed, shows the exact distance between the different feathers and their layers, and a detailed, long, and elegant tail that describes a swallow.
The swallow itself looks elegant in its flight of freedom and exploration. It can even be used to mark transformation as its expression looks serene, yet excited for what is coming. A creative cartoon tattoo of a swallow. Sparrow tattoos mean cheerfulness, determination and assertion. They are an excellent addition to tattoos of city streets or a tattoo design that represents a time of life in which a person needed to have a strong character. Although sparrows may appear at first glance to be more dull than swallows, most sparrow species have interesting patterns in their plumage.
These little birds also have a characterful silhouette and posture. Sparrow tattoos have a very different meaning to swallow tattoos and should be appreciated as a separate symbol from swallow tattoos. This artistic black and white swallow tattoo is posed as though viewed from below. The forked tail is a characteristic body trait of swallows that looks great as part of the silhouette of swallow tattoo designs.
The most popular swallow tattoo design was created by Norman Keith Collins January 14, — June 12, , who is popularly known as Sailor Jerry because he mostly tattooed sailors.
The red, white and blue version of the Sailor Jerry swallow tattoo are popular with people from America, England, France and other countries which have these three colors in their national flag. Read More about Sailor Jerry on Wikipedia. His sparrow tattoo designs are especially popular. Some species of swallow travel from Europe to Africa, crossing most of the planet in order to avoid the cold of winter.
In countries where migrating sparrows live, the return of the birds is a sign that spring has arrived. In the past, swallows were believed to actually carry spring with them as they flew.
Spring is associated with change, new beginnings and new life. As the creature that brings spring to different parts of the world, swallows are a symbol of both newness and the return of joy and easy times. A classic style sparrow tattoo design. Sailors of the past were very aware of the movement of birds because the appearance or flight of certain birds were signs of the weather turning. Sailors respected swallows because like them, the little bird traveled great distances even though travelling was dangerous.
Two swallow tattoos meant that the sailor had traveled 10, nautical miles, a great achievement for a sailor of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Back in the day each swallow tattoo indicated that a sailor had sailed miles. The sailors would usually get the image of a barn swallow in one side of the chest with the first miles and a second matching swallow after traveling miles, usually inked on the other side of the chest, facing the first one. Another popular legend says that the sailor would have one swallow tattooed before setting out on a journey, and the second swallow tattooed at the end of their tour of duty, upon return to their home port, making them a symbol of a successful journey.
Another belief is based on the fact that because these birds never travel far out to sea, when sailors saw a swallow they knew that land was near, carrying a message of hope.
Swallow tattoos are also associated with the idea of returning home to nest. This symbolism is rooted in a couple of ideas. First, the swallow returns to the same location every year to mate and nest, always following the same migration pattern. The second ideas is that it was believed that if a sailor drowns, swallows carry his soul home to heaven.
When the swallow was crossed with a dagger through its heart, it symbolized a memorial for a friend lost at sea. The swallow also represents love, care and affection towards family and friends, showing the loyalty of the person always returning to them.
The swallows also represent everlasting love and are associated with loyalty and fidelity. This birds choose a mate for life, and will only nest with that bird and no other. It's common to get matching tattoos of two barn swallows facing each other. Despite the different meanings that the swallow tattoos may have, they also share the meaning attached to all bird tattoos, and is that they are a perfect symbol of freedom.
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