Have you ever wondered how tattoos came about? Who decided they wanted to imprint something on their body forever? Well the truth is tattoos are believed to have started by accident. Someone thousands of years ago may have had a small wound or cut somewhere on their body, the wound got dirt or something of the sort in it, and when the skin healed over the un-cleaned cut, it left a permanent mark upon them.

Artifacts have been found in the Grotte des Fees (Fairy Grotto) in Chatelperron, France, and in the caves of Portugal and Scandinavia. These artifacts were believed to be a bowl, and sharp tool of some sort. The bowls had remains of black and red pigments, and the sharpened tool was the shape of something you could potentially tattoo with.

Thousands of years ago, tattoos were part of culture, and they had further meaning of indigenous and mythological things. Otzi, the IceMan that was discovered in 1991 in the mountains between Italy and Austria, was covered in 57 tattoos.  They weren’t typical tattoos though, they were believed to be carbon tattoos that were a form of healing, and pain relief.

Maybe it doesn’t really matter where tattoos came from. What matters is the fact that the number of people getting them is growing tremendously. Has it become a rite of passage, act of rebellion, or do people really want the tattoos for a greater purpose? Teenagers throughout the area are turning 18, and on the same day they head over to the tattoo shop to get their ink, but why?

Some people believe tattoos are meaningless, and they think you should never imprint something permanently on your body, because that is not how we were created. Many people are also concerned with the health risks of getting a tattoo. To the majority of people in society today, though, tattoos are a pure form of art, and memories. They can be symbolic of important moments in your life, or a different way to tell a story.

There isn’t always a reason behind a tattoo. Some people like to think of their of body as an open canvas, which they can create a piece of art on. It depends on the person entirely. At Weedsport High School, many staff and students have tattoos, and some are potentially getting them.

Weedsport senior Marisa Thomas is one of the teens potentially getting a tattoo. Her idea for a tattoo goes back a long time, with a lot of meaning, “My aunt Emily, who I am named after, my middle name being Emily, died a year before I was born,” said Thomas. “She loved Elephants, and they became my favorite as well. I always draw them in my artwork, and I want an Elephant tattooed on me in memory of my aunt. It will be made up of small different personal designs.” So what is stopping Marisa? No, she is not scared, and yes, she is old enough. Marisa just happens to be joining the Coast Guard, and will not be permitted to get a tattoo, until after her basic training is done.

Another Weedsport senior, Michael Gray, already has a tattoo. He has a religious cross on his arm. Michael said, “My tattoo resembles my family, because we are Catholic, and it is in memory of my lost family members.”

The WHS library media specialist, Ms. Brynn Speer, has several tattoos, three to be exact. She is also planning on getting another one. All of Ms. Speer’s tattoos were very planned out. None of them were a spur-of-the-moment type thing. Ms. Speer said at first her parents did not think they would like the tattoo she was planning on getting, but they ended up loving it. It is the alphabet in a circle with the word “change” in the middle. Her other tattoos are quotes saying, “We who believe in freedom cannot rest,” and “Be kind, for every person you meet is fighting a great battle.” Ms. Speer said, “I am a more word-oriented person so all of my tattoos happen to have deeper meaning.” When asked what she thought of tattoos that did not really have much meaning, except for pure art, she responded “The beauty part is a great reason to do it as well.”

    Quite often people say you shouldn’t get tattoos somewhere easily visible, because it might affect your chances in the work field, but that may not always be true. Ms. Speer has two on her arm that are visible, and she says, “All of my experiences have been positive. I make sure the employer is aware that I have these tattoos, and their responses are always supportive.”

    Even in a small town like Weedsport, tattoos are more common than you would think. When asked if she had any advice for young teens who want tattoos, Ms. Speer said, “The most important thing is to make sure the style of the artist is for you. You want someone who will be honest with you, and will help you decide if you want this on your body for the rest of your life. Also, pick a spot that ages well!”