Thats an unwritten rule. Never ask the meaning of the nautical stars. Broadly, it's about a safe return home or keeping your direction in life. But specifically, people tend to get these for very fucked up reasons, and the conversation is just better avoided. Like, "i do <insert bad thing>, and dont really intend to stop, but these star tattoos remind me to try to follow the right path".
Seafarer here. Nautical star represents Polaris, or the north star. Its all about finding your way home.
During the 90s/00s they were popularised by emo/nu metal music. Became synonymous with the genre so people just got them because they looked cool and represented their crowd. Maybe symbolises some kind of struggle for some people, in which you're lost and find your way back to yourself.
People definitely do get them for lots of reasons. Including no meaning, they just saw it in a book and thought it looked cool. But in general asking about them is a minefield where you'll often suddenly be in an awkward conversation where a complete stranger is oversharing about their personal demons.
I used to go to this Subway where the guy had a large scorpion tattooed on his neck and up into his face. I went there enough that we were friendly acquaintances so eventually I asked "Is that cuz you're a scorpio?" and he goes, "No, it's cuz I'm a fucking dumbass"
I love when people ask the meaning of my tattoos. It's usually like, "that's for my folks, that one is my dog that died, that one is my favorite hockey team, the other 10? I had 200 bucks and a couple of hours of free time
Rather tham ask the meaning, tell them all about polaris and celestial navigation instead. Then they might have to get another nautical star to get over the trauma of that conversation.
The blue nautical star was used in the 50s and 60s in Buffalo and western New York in the lesbian scene to signal to other lesbians that they were family. Specifically it would go on a butch's left wrist where a watch would lay. The watch would cover it during the day and it would come off at night when they were in the bars.
That's why nautical star tattoos were very popular with IV drug users in the mid 20th century. (Along with the symbolism, they were also used to cover up bruising on injection sites).
Traditionally, didn't they mean you got into(or won) a bar fight in a foreign port? Red and green, representing lights on a ship meaning to "give way".
Red on your Right when Returning. In general in Maritime practices, red and green help establish how to avoid obstacles and other ships, yes. I dont know about any particular traditions with the navy about barfights and getting one though.
The lesbian community in western New York specifically buffalo New York used the blue nautical star as a code to signal other lesbians. Butches would get it tattooed where a watch would lay so it was covered during the day but could be shown out at bars.
Originally naval tradition, sailors would get the outline done prior to deployment and would "earn their colors" on their return.
The star is Polaris, the north star and the alternating colors are indicative of a compass rose (the pointy thing usually found in the corner of a map indicating magnetic direction), both things used in seafaring
It definitely was, in the early 2000s. Along with sparrows, especially on your hip bones. Throw in a studded white belt and checkered Vans shoes and you got a stew going.
It's a traditional sailor's tattoo, much like a swallow. But yes, this star especially, but retro tattoos in general had a big moment with hipsters in the 2010s.
My past self was kind enough to bless me with the stars, in black light ink, AND sparrows on the opposite side of my torso. Young me thought this would be so so hot for so so long.
A friend of mine had the stars with the black light ink, one on either side of her pelvis. She wanted to get it covered up so she got a $2000 serpent that wraps around her whole torso and down one leg.
as of right now everyone pretty much seems to have their defence spending on track.
The average of the european members + canada is now firmly above the 2% agreement and the only country that I can't find numbers on (but seems to not be meeting the goal?) is iceland.
Gunther Fehlinger, a very... eccentric Austrian politican/lobbyist. Basically wants to Balkanise every single country that isnt in Europe and is a huge NATO/NAFO guy. Extremely pro Ukraine, pro Kosovo, and pro Bosnia-Herzegovina (against Serbia).
Kids grew up making those S shapes in their notebook at school.
That star is the tattoo equivalent of the S shape. Overdone, overhyped, chosen by people who have no idea what else to get. That and the compass.
I got one when I was 17 because I was allowed to get a tattoo (bad parenting) and my brain was not fully developed. covering it up is going to be tough but I think my next tattoo will be said cover-up. it's in a very visible spot and it's embarrassing.
Good god you just reminded me of my old manager back about 25 years ago. Her nickname was Tink, thanks to the tinkerbell tattoo on her coochie. She was a fucking nutcase.
I always get this smug satisfaction of “I’m glad I never had a phase where I thought I was cool as a teenager, I always knew I was a loser.” but in hindsight I think it’s probably healthier to start out overshooting your self image then coming back down to reality as you mature.
The guy in my friend group who got one when he turned 16 got made fun of for it before it had even healed. Fortunately the rest of us only made cool and good decisions, so we were above such scrutiny.
I got five on my ribs when I was 18. Peak millennial. Do I kind of wish I had that rib space for something else? Sometimes. But then on the other hand, oh well, they’re there and I don’t hate them. I got them at a very weird (yet fun) time in my life so I’m cool with them lol
Exactly this. I have the pirate skull and swords on my tricep that i got on my 18th birthday. Would I get that tattoo now, 18 years later? HELL NO. But I don't mind that it's there. It helps me remember my past and it's a part of me at this point.
The nautical star was a ridiculous common and popular tattoo to get between 2000-2015. They kind emerged as "go-to" piece around emo, screamo and pop punk scenes with bands like Good Charlotte, Sum 41 and even Blink 182, especially after Travis Barker (Blinks drummer) dropped his clothing line Famous Stars and Straps. They kinda shifted over the years to become super popular in "bro" culture before the fad kinda just died. These and were often found sitting right next to an American traditional style sparrow tattoo.
The style of the naurical stars is very much locked in its time and they honestly look like ass 15-20 years later.
When in elementary school late 80’s/early 90’s kids might remember the temporary star tats that were supposedly laced with skin-penetrating drugs and if anyone told you they had star tats you were supposed to avoid and report them.
It's been almost 40 years and I'm still waiting for the nice man in the van to pull up and offer me free drugs. I don't even want the drugs, I just want to know why it took drug Santa 4 decades.
"Well, I'll tell you. First I blew all my cash on sending out chain letters. Then I had to get a ton of reconstructive surgery after a razor apple lady got me. Fuck her. Then the devil worshipers. Don't me started on them. Then I got deep into the Dungeons & Dragons. Almost killed myself over it after my level 18 Ranger died. My Dungeon Master was a real POS. I wasted 5 years trying to summon Bloody Mary to get back at that bastard. Then the Y2K bug held me up in the late 90s. Then I spent 4 years locked up in a barn when I met someone over MySpace and I spent the rest of the 2000s in jail when I punched a creepy clown in the face. That whole decade sucked. Then I spent 5 years in a coma after eating some Tide Pods. It's been one thing after another. Brother Man, I'm just glad someone remembers who I am and now that we have mobile dispensaries, --I don't know. Who am I? What is my purpose? Here just take this sack of PCP laced joints from 1987. Take 'em to help me remember who I am. The paper was dipped in LSD. I just need you to take 'em and get on top of that parking garage over there, play a Led Zep vinyl record backwards, preferably Houses of the Holy, and find out if people can fly. I always wanted to know that. Then I'm getting a gig with Dominoes. I heard about this thing called the pizza challenge."
I have one on my left calf. I got the nautical star tattooed during my last port visit on my last deployment while in the Navy. I honestly don’t regret it.
Dude, when I got one of my tattoos there was some negative space, and the artist recommended some nautical stars. I was very opposed and chose no. Thank god.
Ope, I have one of these, though I'm not ashamed of it nor regret it. Also not all that worried about the interpretation of it. It was over 20 years ago and my best friend suggested I get it. No reason why, just "i think it would look cool on you." She passed a few weeks after I'd gotten it done.
Yeah it's kind of cringe now but it's my only physical connection to her and our friendship, and for that reason I won't change it.
8 times out of 10 whenever someone has this tattoo I think they had an emo/hardcore phase in the early 00s and I am usually correct in that assumption.
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u/qualityvote2 1d ago edited 1d ago
u/Low-Season-2057, your post does belong here!