Santa Muerte tattoos are obvious representations of people’s odd obsession with death. The representation of Death in Spanish society influenced these tattoo patterns. Santa Muerte refers to Saint Death, also known as Our Lady of Death.
Santa Muerte is a controversial character who is not affiliated with any faith but is seen by many media outlets as a new religious wave. It is the second fastest expanding ‘new’ faith in the twenty-first century, with over 20 million followers due to its appeal as a personification of death and savior. Many individuals have claimed to have experienced miracles after embracing Santa Muerte.
Santa Muerte has become a source of conflict for Catholic churches, with some accusing it of a crime. If you are a die-hard fan of the Lady of Death and want a cool tattoo in her honor, we have the finest picture gallery of Santa Muerte tattoo designs. These tattoos are meaningful and can be customized to reflect the meaning that is most valuable to you.
Santa Muerte Tattoo
Small Santa Muerte Tattoos
Chicano Style Santa Muerte Tattoo
Santa Muerte’s appearance is not fixed, and her devotees interpret her image differently. As a result, when selecting a design for a Santa Muerte tattoo, one can experiment with different variations and choose the one that speaks to them the most. This implies that the chosen design can be personalized. So, which Santa Muerte tattoo design from the gallery did you like most?
The Santa Muerte Tattoo’s History
The origin of the Santa Muerte tattoo design can be traced back to the religious practices of the Santa Muerte cult, which worships the saint of death to seek protection from enemies and destructive forces. In the past, the tattoo was commonly associated with individuals engaged in illegal activities such as drug dealers and bandits, who hoped to be saved from their enemies and the police by wearing the tattoo.
Today, the Santa Muerte tattoo is a way for many devotees to express their faith and devotion to the saint of death by using their body as a place of worship. Despite the negative perceptions of some towards Santa Muerte and the religious cult, individuals continue to get this tattoo as a symbol of their belief. Some may even hide the tattoo under their clothing to avoid interrogation or unwanted attention.
Santa Muerte Tattoo Meanings
One remarkable aspect of Santa Muerte is that no group or religious entity is spreading her word; rather, it is an unorganized society. This is why the Santa Muerte tattoo can have so many different interpretations. Some of the most well-known are:
Afterlife – The theme of death and afterlife is common, and Santa Muerte is referred to as the Lady of Death. However, unlike other deities associated with death, Santa Muerte is not believed to harm or take the lives of her devotees. Her devotees view her as a benevolent angel who guides them peacefully to their next journey in the afterlife.
Anarchism – Despite public objection and criticism from Catholic churches, the number of devotees of Santa Muerte has continued to increase. Some orthodox churches have labeled Santa Muerte devotees as anarchists who have no connection with Catholicism. However, the devotees have embraced this criticism and some have even gotten tattoos with the word “anarchist” on their bodies.
Anti-Crime – In 2001, Mexican police arrested a notorious gangster and discovered sculptures and a shrine dedicated to Santa Muerte in his home. This led to a negative association between the Lady of Death and criminal activity, with some even calling her a protector of criminals. However, the devotees did not dismiss this association but instead emphasized that crime is not limited to one religion or faith.
Wealth – There are numerous claims of people becoming wealthy after building shrines dedicated to the Lady of Death and offering daily prayers to her. This has contributed to the immense popularity of Santa Muerte.
Health and Prosperity – The color of the veil in a Santa Muerte tattoo can represent different themes associated with the deity. A yellow veil can represent the Lady of Death taking care of the health and prosperity of her devotees, while a green veil can signify justice and a white veil can represent peace.
Where Can I Get a Tattoo of Santa Muerte?
What are some popular places for getting the Santa Muerte tattoo?
- Arms: Both the upper and lower arms look wonderful with the Santa Muerte tattoo design. The design for either place will differ depending on the wearer’s preference and the artist’s inspiration and/or suggestions.
- Back: The upper back is another common place for this tattoo, which features the death symbol inked across the complete back. The tattoo can be reassuring to the user in this location, knowing that death is on their side and defending them.
- Chest: Some individuals choose to have a Santa Muerte image tattooed on their chest. They could get the tattoo on their left breast pocket to show their dedication to the goddess of death, or across their chest to show their fearlessness in the world with Santa Muerte on their side.
- Legs: Some tattoo enthusiasts might choose to have the Santa Muerte tattoo design placed on their thigh. Though this is uncommon, the reason for selecting this place could be that the user wishes to conceal the tattoo.
Maybe they don’t want the people around them to know what they believe in and what group they are a part of. As a result, they value the privacy of their views. As with any tattoo, each person has the option of getting a temporary or permanent tattoo.
Examples of celebrities who have Santa Muerte tattoos?
Despite media reports about Santa Muerte’s popularity among celebrities and pop culture figures, there are no photos or evidence of well-known celebrities carrying a Santa Muerte tattoo.
Pop culture’s devotion to death symbols is frequently mentioned in music videos and informal media references, but there is no evidence of a famous star tattooing an image or design of the saint of death on their body.
I’m Michael Elijah, and I am a writer for this site. I have prior experience in this field, such as working at a tattoo parlor in Las Vegas.
