Brainstorm ideas for your next inking inspiration? You should consider getting a pig and a rooster tattoo to celebrate this journey called life.
Traditionally, sailors tattooed pigs and roosters on their feet.
As for the source of the tattoo, there are two popular explanations. Since the rooster and pig make such an odd pair, you’re bound to wonder what does a rooster and pig tattoo mean?
Origin and meaning are linked. One theory says that since roosters and pigs were farm animals, they didn’t like water very much and were believed to find the shore faster than anyone else. Thus, a sailor hoping to avoid drowning in the seas would tattoo these animals on his feet. In the other explanation, it is said, the rooster and pig tattoo became a bit like a pair of lucky charms during World War II. During the war, the Navy shipped pigs and roosters in crates made from lightweight wooden frames. As a result, even during shipwrecks, the crates served as personal flotation devices for livestock. That’s why sailors slowly started associating this pair of tattoos with good luck.
Moana themed pig and rooster tattoo
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If you’re a Disney fan, these two animals need no introduction. The rooster is Heihei from the movie Moana and the piglet is Pua from the same movie. Heihei, as Moana said, is a bit special, and that facial expression is perfectly captured in this tattoo. On the other hand, Pua is adorable himself, smiling brightly. This is a fun little twist on the typical pig and rooster sailor tattoo.
Pua, in the film, is the protagonist’s greatest caregiver, and even though she’s a piglet, she sometimes seems to understand her better than the humans around her. Heihei, on the other hand, is clueless but still has the best intentions. So, the individual with these tattooed images might be a bit slow, but they always want the best for the people around them.
Maritime classic pig and rooster tattoo
This is the most common version of a pig and rooster tattoo you can find, and it is also inked in the classic style. In this tattoo, the rooster and the pig look panicked as they try to run away from something. Although it’s not very realistic, the pop of colors in this piece certainly makes it a feast for the eyes. The tattooed rooster has bright shades like pink, yellow and green, while the pig is speckled with black spots on a brown body.
The color red, often associated with danger, is visible in the background of both tattoos, indicating that the animals are in trouble and therefore trying to save their lives. In keeping with the classic style, each tattoo is inked on each foot as sailors would do to stay safe.
Pig And Rooster Tribal Tattoo
Now here is an interesting improvisation on the traditional pig and rooster tattoo. The tattoo is complete only in black ink, as is the case with Polynesian tattoos. The different patterns are all inspired by Polynesian patterns. At a glance, shark teeth, ocean waves and spearhead symbols spread over the rooster and pig.
Each shape has a symbolism attached to it. For example, shark teeth resemble the adaptability of an individual in an adverse environment. Likewise, the spearhead is a motif of a person’s warlike will and determination. Waves signify the constant movement and change in life just like the waves in the sea. Therefore, these different styles and patterns found in tribal tattoos are a great mode of self-expression.
Adventures captured in a bottle tattoo
Instead of the right foot, this tattoo is inked on the right thigh. Deviating from predictable designs, this piece wins when it comes to creative flair. Inside the bottle, it looks like the night was captured with a full moon. Clouds float as stars twinkle in the night. A pig and a rooster can be spotted at the bottle of the bottle, both floating in wooden boxes in the middle of the sea. They appear to have escaped a shipwreck showing a surprising survival rate. Around the bottle, closed with a cork, we can see some flowers.
This excellent piece of body art is the work of a skilled artist. So, be sure to get the best design for your sailor tattoo. The witty use of grayscale helps give depth to the tattoo.
Ready to face the sea tattoo
In this pig and rooster tattoo, instead of the wooden boxes, the rooster and the pig have become wiser on how to cross the sea. On one foot there is a tattooed rooster wearing inflatable swimming armbands on its two wings. The pig on the other side wears a typical floating tube. The two look like they are walking towards the beach to enjoy a beautiful sunny day. Another fun detail to this piece is the shape of an anchor tattoo that the pig displays!
Since the pair of tattoos are designed as lucky charms, it makes sense as a visual game to have them wearing floating gear. Furthermore, it can also symbolize how the one getting inked is ready to take on whatever challenges life throws at them with their flotation devices. It’s a way that goes perfectly with the silly anchor on the pig, because anchors are symbols of stability that one seeks in life.
Realistic pig and rooster tattoo
This tattoo takes us back to illustrations found in old storybooks. Both tattoos are done on the hands instead of the feet. On the other hand, pig and rooster tattoos have a realistic touch. The white rooster with a red comb against the pink pig is tattooed on the skin. Both are holding a rope that looks like a slipknot.
The spectacular details of this body art can only be handled by experienced tattoo artists, so be sure to get the best and be prepared for more than one long session.
Minimalist pig and rooster tattoo
For those who like to focus on meaningful tattoos, this pair might be worth considering. Neither the pig nor the rooster are given light strokes, except for their outline. A black silhouette in its shape is the only subtle indication available. Much like the dark style of the tattoo, the artist paints the two creatures to stand still unlike the rest of the tattoos.
The compact size allows the pair to be inked in many different places. Also, this set is ideal if you want to have a symbol of good luck without being too obvious.
Anthropomorphic pig and rooster tattoo
We love this quirky pig and rooster tattoo. Both figures are sketched to resemble humans. The chubby pig stands on two legs wearing shoes and an undershirt. He smiles with his freckled face while his arm displays numerous tattoos, such as an apple and a knife. The rooster, on the other hand, has comically small paws while his shirt reads “Early Bird”. Both look like pot-bellied middle-aged men.
The pair itself is connected with good luck on the sea. In addition, the knife is a motive for sacrifice. So, this could be a sailor who is ready for all the sacrifices that come with a life on the seas.
Keep the Pig and Rooster Floating Tattoo
There is a lot more to this tattoo than meets the eye. The faces of the two creatures can be seen on each foot. Instead of a pig, however, here we have a boar. Both look much fiercer than in other depictions. The idea is completed with the quote ‘tread water’.
The idea behind this tattoo is deeply symbolic. Here we have a fighter trying to stay afloat in this stormy sea of life, as the quote suggests. The fierce look in the tattoo signifies the resolve to fight tenaciously without giving up until the end. This simple piece is a favorite among many pig and rooster tattoos.
Vibrating Pig and Rooster Arm Tattoo
Among the many roosters and pigs is this adorable couple. The rooster is a joyful celebration of colors, having all the hues of the rainbow on its body. On the other hand, the pig is a cute little white and black. The two appear to be running towards each other, with a word on each hand that says “hold on” together. A machete seems to hang above the pig.
While you’re on the ship, “holding your ground” can simply mean securing every part for a safe journey. However, this metaphor can be applied to life itself. Hold fast is a saying that promotes faith in one’s beliefs, this is the idea conveyed by this tattoo.
However, this is not the only sailor tattoo with history or symbolism. Depending on how long a sailor has spent at sea, he can get a tattoo. For example, the shellback tattoo is one of many sailor tattoos, where an experienced sailor is entitled to get a shellback turtle tattoo as a reason that he has crossed the equator. Thus, the more tattoos a sailor has, the more experience he can accumulate.
It seems a little too early to say goodbye to the pig and the rooster. Therefore, we have to share some other tattoo designs that you cannot miss.
- Porky Pig and Foghorn Leghorn tattoo.
- Pokemon Tepig and Torchic tattoo.
- Pig and sea rooster tattoo.
- Angry birds themed navy blue rooster and pig tattoo.
- Skeleton pig and rooster looking through wooden cages tattoo.
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Disclaimer: Curated and re-published here. We do not claim anything as we translated and re-published using google translator. All images and Tattoo Design ideas shared only for information purpose.