Why do sailors have swallow tatoos on their hands?
The swallow tattoo was a symbol used historically by sailors to show off their sailing experience. It was the image of a bluebird, or “swallow,” usually tattooed on the chest. According to one legend, a sailor with one swallow had traveled over 5,000 nautical miles; a sailor with two swallows had traveled 10,000 miles. Traveling these great distances was extremely difficult and dangerous in the early days of sailing, so one or more swallow tattoos denoted a very experienced and valuable sailor. It is also legend that if the sailor drowns, the swallows will carry their soul to heaven, representing freedom and hope. As swallows always return home to San Juan Capistrano every year, the tattoos were used to say that the sailor would always return home. As Swallows also choose a mate for life and will only nest with that bird they are a sign loyalty, pride to both regions and people. In terms of jail house tattoos, the bluebirds, swallows, can also represent white supremacy or white power a
