Traditional croatian tattoo

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Still, it is. Traditional symbols are connected to Christianity and the custom itself is even older and can be traced centuries back in history around these areas. A thousand years long tradition of tattooing their hands, to Croat women in Bosnia and Herzegovina still brings back memories. They had been tattooed as little girls, some obliged to and some expressing their wish. This tradition originates from the places once occupied by the Turks in the time of the Ottoman Empire.

Traditional croatian tattoo

Tattooing of the hands was a widespread tradition among Catholic Croatian women in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ottoman rule centuries ago. This tradition originates from the places once occupied by the Turks and its purpose was to prevent young, Catholic women being kidnapped and converted to Islam. Tattooing symbols on the hand however dates even further back than that period. The custom was mostly revived during the reign and fear of the Ottoman Empire, when Christian symbols were used for protection. The cross also has its variations in the form of a small pine tree. The kolo circle , a motif taken from the kolo dancing in the villages, were also tattooed, which symbolised togetherness. According to historians, youngsters, usually girls, were being tattooed between the age of 12 and Some were tattooed even younger. Today, the traditional tattoos are becoming popular again and one person who is keeping the traditional alive the traditional way is Melissa, a year-old tattoo artist in Paris. Born to a Bosnian father from Croatia and a French mother, whom he met whilst she was holidaying in Dubrovnik, Melissa grew up in the south of France. After studying applied arts and architecture for 7 years and working as a freelance architect for 4 years in Canada and Paris, she decided to change direction and become a tattoo artist. Passionate about ethnic tattoos, Melissa is keeping the tradition alive the old way without using a machine but only needles.

Inuit Traditional croatian tattoo code: iku promoted to code: iuTavlugun code: ipk promoted to code: ik Osage Haudenosaunee. It was a painful procedure according to the older women today, but they say mostly it was worth the pain.

Photo Credit: Traditional Croatian Tattoos. My interest in this topic started as a quite personal thing. As a tribute to my grandmother who passed away two years ago. I remember that I was impressed that my grandmother had a tattoo, and more over, that she gotten it when she was a young girl, about 9 years old. The story goes like this…. The Greek historian Strabo 1st century BC mentions tattooing as a custom of inhabitants of the area corresponding to present day Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, this phenomenon became widespread among the Roman Catholic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ottoman rule of their lands — , and lasted up until 20th century, more precisely until

Tattooing of the hands was a widespread tradition among Catholic Croatian women in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ottoman rule centuries ago. This tradition originates from the places once occupied by the Turks and its purpose was to prevent young, Catholic women being kidnapped and converted to Islam. Tattooing symbols on the hand however dates even further back than that period. The custom was mostly revived during the reign and fear of the Ottoman Empire, when Christian symbols were used for protection. The cross also has its variations in the form of a small pine tree. The kolo circle , a motif taken from the kolo dancing in the villages, were also tattooed, which symbolised togetherness. According to historians, youngsters, usually girls, were being tattooed between the age of 12 and

Traditional croatian tattoo

Today, traditional Croatian tattoos are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, with many people seeking to learn more about the history and symbolism behind these unique designs. During the Ottoman presence in Central and Southern Bosnia in the 15th and 16th centuries, tattooing became a significant cultural practice among Catholic Croatian women, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tattoos, particularly on their hands, were not just an art form but were seen as a mark of their Christian faith. They believed these tattoos would serve as protection, making them less appealing to Ottoman soldiers because of the visible display of their Christian identity. As the years progressed, the custom of traditional Croatian tattoos evolved, with many designs incorporating Christian symbols. Today, traditional Croatian tattoos remain popular, and many tattoo artists are dedicated to preserving this ancient practice, often blending traditional motifs with contemporary styles. Northern Croatia, with its picturesque rolling hills and ancient castles, is known for tattoos reminiscent of tribal patterns, possibly influenced by the ancient tribes that once roamed the area. The exact nature and specifics of these tattoos are hard to pin down, but they often feature intricate patterns, possibly reflecting influences from various cultures and times. The Dalmatian coast, with its rich maritime history along the Adriatic Sea, has tattoo traditions that mirror its seafaring past. While anchors, ships, and waves might be popular symbols due to the coastal influence, the region also boasts a rich tapestry of history that might inspire other designs.

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Last minute. The Privacy Policy. There were also some workshops for tattoo artists and also a work of young researcher Tea Turalija , who is trying to document as much as possible cases of women who are still alive, to record their stories and to take photos of their tattoos. Passionate about ethnic tattoos, Melissa is keeping the tradition alive the old way without using a machine but only needles. I promised to myself that one day I will try to tattoo. We will try to get to the bottom of this question in the next article about the traditional tattoos of the Croats. I came back to France and I was consumed by my daily architect routine. We mainly find these tattoos on the hands, fingers, forearm and sometimes the upper arm and chest. I see a lot of tattooists using these symbols without mentioning where they are from. When I started tattooing I began to do more and more research about traditional tattoos from Croatia and Bosnia. Everything is done manually with a classic tattoo needle dipped in ink where the goal is to make a multitude of small dots which will then form lines or shadows. A thousand years long tradition of tattooing their hands, to Croat women in Bosnia and Herzegovina still brings back memories. However, this phenomenon became widespread among the Roman Catholic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ottoman rule of their lands — , and lasted up until 20th century, more precisely until Croatia Week.

Lauren Simmonds.

My Istria guide. The handpoke technique is an ancestral technique of tattooing practiced by a minority of tattoo artists. Sign up to receive the Croatia Week Newsletter. Tattooing custom prevalent among Catholics in Ottoman Bosnia and Herzegovina. People all over the world show their designs based on this old and unique tradition. Some of them also wrote that they are their own creation, or they are « berber » symbols. Owner Login. Most people confuse berber and Croatian-Bosnian tattoos. Photo Credit: Traditional Croatian Tattoos. Passionate about ethnic tattoos, Melissa is keeping the tradition alive the old way without using a machine but only needles. Copyright There are a lot of great tattoo artists in Canada and tattoos are super common there. Special offer.