What do swallows mean in the Navy?

Swallow tattoos are one of the most popular in the navy and have a number of meanings. Each swallow represents 5,000 nautical miles in a sailor's career. The circumference of the earth is 21,639 nautical miles – about 4.16 swallows. A swallow with a dagger would be used as a memorial of a lost comrade at sea.

What does a swallow mean to a sailor?

According to legend, one swallow meant the sailor had traveled over 5,000 nautical miles and two swallows meant a distance over 10,000 nautical miles. If you are going all-out with the sailor meaning, then you can have them lined up on your arm, or you could even go with one swallow on each side of your chest.

Why did sailors get swallow tattoos?

A swallow also became a mark of experience. It was traditionally tattooed on the chest for every 5,000 nautical miles that a sailor had travelled. These journeys were riddled with hardships, starvation, sickness, and death, and so the more swallows the sailor had on his chest, the more experienced and respected he was.

What does the sparrow tattoo mean in the Navy?

Swallows

Sailors earn a new swallow tattoo for every 5,000 nautical miles traveled, which is about 5,754 regular miles, roughly the distance between New York City and Tel Aviv. The circumference of the earth is 21,639 nautical miles, just about 4.16 sparrows.

What do swallow tattoos signify?

Swallow tattoos symbolize travel and freedom, as well as returning home. Once used by sailors to show sailing prowess, swallow tattoos now come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of designs and colors.

A Guide to Sailor Tattoos

What do 2 swallow tattoos mean?

The twin swallows are usually the symbol of love, prosperity, and rich family relations, so tattooing two of them can hint at the care and affection, as well as fidelity and loyalty between two soul mates.

What do swallow tattoos on the chest mean?

The swallow tattoo was a symbol used historically by sailors to denote their sailing experience. Of British origin in the early days of sailing, it was the image of a barn swallow, usually tattooed on the chest, hands or neck.

Can a non sailor get a swallow tattoo?

One thing is for sure, you'd definitely have a highly experienced sailor in front of you. Only a sailor who had sailed 5,000 nautical miles was allowed to get a tattoo of a swallow.

Why do sailors get bird tattoos?

Inked images of swallows were good-luck symbols (7, 8), but in a roundabout way. Tattoos were, in essence, badges of honor signifying one's skills and achievement. Only sailors, after 5,000 nautical miles at sea, could acquire an inked swallow image on their chest (9, 10).

What tattoo do sailors get when they cross the equator?

An anchor tattoo symbolizes a Sailor's crossing of the Atlantic. Sailors may get a Shellback turtle once they have crossed the equator and get initiated into 'King Neptune's Court'.

What does a bird tattoo on the neck mean?

So a swallow tattoo represents the revival of hope and love. Two lovers might display swallow tattoos on their bodies as an expression of their deep rooted affection for each other. And, of course, the swallow symbolizes freedom.

What does a tattoo of a teardrop mean?

One of the most widely recognized prison tattoos, the teardrop's meaning varies geographically. In some places, the tattoo can mean a lengthy prison sentence, while in others it signifies that the wearer has committed murder. If the teardrop is just an outline, it can symbolize an attempted murder.

Are swallow tattoos feminine?

Swallow tattoos are considered to be a very old-school and traditional design, since they have been around for so many years and remain a pretty unisex choice!

Why do sailors get pig and rooster tattoos?

Pig and Rooster

The foot tattoos of pigs and roosters were worn by sailors in WWII in the hopes it would keep the sailor from drowning. The Navy shipped these animals in crates at the time. When ships went down, the crates floated, and the animals inside would sometimes be the only survivors.

Why do sailors get pig and chicken tattoos?

Sailors believed that a nautical star or compass rose would help them navigate, including finding their way back to port or back home. A pig and a hen, usually tattooed on each foot (pig on the left, chicken on the right), were wards against drowning in a shipwreck.

Why do men have swallow tattoos on their hands?

For the fighter: Men would often get swallows tattooed on the backs of their hands to show they were quick, strong, and ruthless fighters! In some cultures the swallow is a symbol of rebirth and positive change which is something nearly all human beings experience at some point in their life.

How many miles is a swallow tattoo?

A sailor who had logged 5,000 nautical miles under sail earned the right to have a Swallow tattoo. 10,000 miles: two Swallows. Indicates a deckhand. The words “HOLD FAST” tattooed across the knuckles of each hand was to ensure a good strong grip when the sailor was up in the rigging.

What is a Sailor Jerry tattoo?

For a sailor, ships are both practical and metaphorical. It's where you go for work – but also for meaning and adventure. Sailor Jerry loved ships and held master papers on every major type of vessel. His legendary clipper ship tattoos represent both the call to adventure and the determination to be "Homeward Bound".

What do barn swallows represent?

Tattoos of barn swallow are popular among sailors as they are seen as lucky charms for safe return, and they also symbolize the long distances they travel. The barn swallow is the national bird of Estonia and Austria and is one of the most often depicted birds on postage stamps from around the world.

What does hold fast tattoo mean?

“Hold Fast” written across the knuckles indicate a sailor's career as a deckhand. It's said that having “Hold Fast” on each of a deckhand's fingers would give them the grip they needed to work with the ship's lines and rigging.

What crossed anchors mean?

Crossed anchors: A pair of anchors crossed on the webbing of the hand—between the thumb and index finger—meant you were a boatswain's mate. A boatswain was the foreperson on deck, in charge of managing the crew on duty and directing any rigging, anchoring, or cabling of the ship.

What does a sparrow tattoo on the hand mean?

Sparrow tattoos are usually associated with freedom, love, and commitment, but there are many other great meanings that can be attached to these designs. For decades, they have been used as a standard in animal tattoo imagery.

What does a spider web tattoo mean?

The traditional spiderweb tattoo can symbolise a struggle in the wearer's life that they have had to overcome. Used within a naval context, sailors would tattoo this design to show they're wanting to go home, with the web representing their long wait.

What do blue bird tattoos mean?

A bluebird tattoo most often symbolizes good luck, positivity and happiness, and a popular detailed, realistic design tied to prosperity.

What's the difference between sparrow and swallow tattoos?

While sparrows are plump, have shorter wings, and are grayish brown, the swallow birds are blue, with forked tails and pointed, curved wings. Sparrow tattoos carry religious connotations and are not very common. On the other hand, the swallow tattoo designs are pretty popular among sailors.