The sparrow tattoo is a design that can easily be incorporated into either a males or females tattoo, all it takes is a little alteration. The sparrow tattoo could get slightly altered, depending on whether it is a man or woman who is getting the tattoo. If people are looking to get a tattoo, they may be thinking of getting a small tattoo and the sparrow tattoo is just a small tattoo design, but at the same time have a lot of detail. The tattoo artist of today have the ability to make every last detail show in the sparrow tattoo. The small tattoos like the sparrow tattoo look especially nice when they get them on the ankles. Looking for the right sparrow tattoo design is very easy today. There are many places that have sparrow designs and patterns. You should even look in the category of small tattoo patterns. And what is the meaning of the sparrow tattoo? Well, it depends on who you talk to but generally sparrow tattoos represent freedom. This is another reason for the popularity of the tattoo. If a person has had a hard time or period in their lives, this could be a bad relationship, they might get the sparrow tattoo to show their new independence. When people get the sparrow tattoo, they usually add more to the design than just having a plain sparrow.
It seems that first and foremost, sparrow tattoos were originally popular with sailors. Life on the high seas was brutally rough in days gone by, and a lot of sailors that put out to sea never returned. Whether they succumbed to storms, rough waves or other sailors, it was considered a badge of honor just to make it back to port. Enter sparrow tattoos. It became a tradition for a sailor to get one sparrow tat for every 5,000 nautical miles of travel. Sparrows were also believed to bring a sailor good luck, so sometimes a seaman would get his tat before heading out in the hopes it would act as a talisman, and help bring him safely home again. Sparrows in nautical themes are often depicted with stars, perhaps as a symbol of following one’s destiny. Sparrow tattoos also have their place in prison culture, where the birds symbolize freedom. Certainly everyone with a sparrow tat isn’t a convict, but some convicts choose sparrows as a statement about their own freedom, especially when they are nearing release. These tattoos are typically worn somewhere on the hands, wrists or arms, but they can really be placed anywhere.