Halloween Tattoos ideas & Designs: Each year, Halloween is celebrated on October 31, and Halloween 2021 will take place on Sunday, October 31. Many people will celebrate this spooky season not only with amazing and elaborate costumes, but also with stunning Halloween tattoos!
This tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
As early as the Christian tradition, November 1 was set aside as the day to honor all saints, which is now known as All Saints Day. Over time, it encompassed some of the traditions of this Celtic pagan holiday, and the evening before it became known as All Hallows Eve, and then Halloween.
As time passed, the holiday became everyone’s favorite autumn celebration, complete with trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, festive gatherings, dong costumes, and eating treats.
HALLOWEEN – THE HORROR HOLIDAY
Fall is the time of year between life and death, plenty and scarcity. Halloween is a time of celebration and fantasy, even though it is a dark one.
Some 2000 years ago, the ancient Celts celebrated a festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sah-ween). As the harvest season ended and the dark days of winter began, it was the equivalent of our New Year’s celebration. The Celtic day began at sundown; the concept that a new year begins as the nights get longer makes sense in this context.
As the name suggests, All Hallows’ Eve occurs one day before All Saints Day and was known to early Europeans as All Hallows’ Eve.
Both All Hallows’ Eve (October 31) and All Saints’ Day (November 1) commemorate saints (“hallows” = saints), commemorating the deceased loved ones.
However, Halloween is the spookiest night of the year. The holiday isn’t confined to the United States, either. People around the world celebrate it in many different ways.
SPOOKY & CREEPY – HALLOWEEN TATTOO SYMBOLS AND MEANINGS
The Halloween celebration celebrates the end of the harvest season and thus the autumn elements. Halloween’s traditional colors are black, orange, and sometimes purple.
Many Halloween symbols will fall into one of three major categories:
- The Season and the Harvest (corn husks, candy corns, jack-o-lanterns)
- Death and Mortality (skeletons, skulls, ghosts, graveyards)
- Misfortune or Evil (witches, bats, black cats, clowns)
LIST OF COMMON HALLOWEEN TATTOO SYMBOLS AND MEANINGS
In addition to images of death, skeletons and ghosts also come to mind when we think about death. The subject matter of Halloween symbols is sure to include anything that could be considered spooky and relate to death, such as graveyards and cemeteries.
- All Hallows’ Eve guisers typically carry Jack-o-Lanterns to ward off evil spirits. According to Irish Christian folklore, the jack-o’-lantern represents a soul denied entry into both heaven and hell.
- A witch is regarded as having mystical powers and is often believed to be connected with Satan or the spirit world, resulting in their connection to eons of history. It was believed that their biggest gatherings occurred on the 30th of April and, of course, on the 31st of October.
- Bat – Many of these are caused by vampire bats, which eat blood, but only enough to survive without killing the host. Bats have become symbols of evil and of all things ghoulish in mythology because vampires are thought to change into bats for flight and to enter places with more ease.
- Halloween has always been associated with ghosts. Even during the festival of Samhain, Celtic people believed ghosts were nearby as the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest.
- Druids and Christians believed that evil humans could transform into black cats by locking them in cages and throwing them into sacred fires. With its piercing yellow eyes and arched back, the black cat became the symbol of the spirit of Halloween.
- Skeletons and skulls – Halloween symbols of death and the human condition, skeletons and skulls are striking. During the holiday, they remind us that death has always been an underlying theme.
- Halloween is considered the most dangerous holiday of the year due to the thin veil between the living and the dead. Death can walk the earth at night on Halloween due to the thin veil. It meant that their ghosts would return on Halloween night to visit their homes. Family members would leave food out as snacks and even put out chairs for their loved ones to rest.
- Scarecrows – Scarecrows are more than just Halloween symbols; they are a symbol of the harvest and the fall season.
- Halloween legend says an owl and a cat are the companions of witches. Owls are thought to sound like witches when they screech. At least in Ancient Rome, owls were considered bad or harbingers of evil.
- Because of their connections to witches and haunted houses, spiders have become part of Halloween imagery. Usually they are associated with the extra creepiness found in the corners of dilapidated haunted houses or horrors. Not to mention the stories about writing spiders. If a writing spider spins your name in its web, you are destined to die soon.
- Corn husk – Corn husk are Halloween symbols that go all the way back to the times of Samhain when agriculture was a big part of the season.
FLASH TATTOOS FOR HALLOWEEN
In an interview with 16 News Now, artist Phil Rich says Halloween is no longer just a holiday, but a style.
“Now that nearly 1 in 4 Americans have tattoos, people can show their love for all things Halloween with a Tim Burton tattoo or a potion bottle tattoo. The acceptance of tattoos and individual styles while classically rendered is only growing and will continue to do so,” he says.
Since
There are many artists and shops that offer Halloween deals as well. Keep in mind, however, that it’s a tattoo and getting it as cheap as possible probably shouldn’t be the goal.
There are plenty of classic tattoo designs for men, as well, like a raven, snake, owl feather, or even a mandala.
Nonetheless, Halloween is a fun time to get a gruesome tattoo from a flash sheet and attend an event hosted by your favorite tattoo shop.
HALLOWEEN TATTOO IDEAS
To help you with your research for your next creepy tattoo design, we went on a hunt through Instagram to find the best Halloween tattoo ideas.
Take a spooky look below to check them out all:
There are people who like Halloween, and then there are people who love Halloween. If you’re the latter, getting a Halloween-themed tattoo may be on your mind this year. After all, it’s the best way to show off just how much the holiday means to you.
It’s just as easy to apply a hilarious or creepy Halloween tattoo design as decorating your home and dressing up in your favorite costume on Halloween. You can get pumpkins, spider webs, ghosts, witch hats, and even Disney villains. For those who want to go all out to celebrate the season, they can commit to a whole Halloween scene sleeve. The following Halloween tattoos are a great example of how to make a one-day holiday into a year-long celebration.
This tattoo looks good enough to drink! Artist fakelegfoxtattoo captioned it, “I’m so looking forward to fall this year,” and honestly, same. But at least these tattoos keep the spooky season on trend all year long.
30 Tattoos for Anyone Who’s Obsessed With Halloween
For certain individuals, Halloween is an occasional occasion that passes with the changing leaves and basically returns the next year. For others, Halloween isn’t only an occasion – it’s a lifestyle. Also, what better way of showing one’s all year devotion than a horrendously magnificent tattoo? Halloween is brimming with images, symbols, expressions, and stories. There are such countless opportunities for things that make a decent Halloween tattoo.
Tattoos and Halloween basically have a place together. The “elective” work of art and “option” occasion appear to go connected at the hip, as a great deal of tattoos are based around nonconformity symbolism. For those fixated on blood and gore movies, jack-o’- lights, and dark felines, they ought to plan to contact their tattoo craftsman soon, on the grounds that they will need some new ink in the wake of seeing these.
From phantoms and pumpkins to witches and spiderwebs, there are such countless plans that are not difficult to customize and that address the spookiest season.
The following are 30 Halloween-motivated tattoos that admirers of the occasion will need to flaunt the entire year. Certain individuals might even consider getting mutiple!
Furthermore, let us know – which one is the best Halloween tat of all?
spooky.pookie/Instagram
Spell Book
Fans of the 1993 classic Hocus Pocus are sure to recognize this iconic imagery. It’s the Sanderson sisters’ spell book! With a creepy real eye embedded in its cover, this small arm piece is sure to give anyone chills.
unicornkissestribe/Instagram
Practical Magic
The Sanderson sisters aren’t the only witches worthy of body art! Let’s not forget about Gillian and Sally Owens. The symbolism of this shoulder tattoo is related to a heartwarming line from Practical Magic. “But there are some things I know for certain: Always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”
lilianraya/Instagram
Sally
Fans of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas will recognize main character Sally in this gasp-worthy, brightly hued arm piece by Lilian Raya, a tattoo artist in Mexico City. “I’ve been dying to do this character for so long!” she wrote alongside the post. She also asked for more female characters from Tim Burton. Fingers crossed!
mackmander.ink/Instagram
Jack-O’-Lantern Finger
For a subtle nod to a lifelong love of Halloween, there’s no better way to go than by opting for a tiny tattoo. This teeny jack-o’-lantern made its way to a “spooky babe’s” thumb. Check out the charming attention to detail. And straightforward black ink has its charm.
mackmander.ink/Instagram
Bat Wings
Perhaps this tattoo-rocker is a Batman or Batgirl fan. Or they’re simply looking to channel the spooky, magnetic vibes of the nocturnal creature. Either way, they’re clearly a fan of Halloween. This ankle tat is a simple, fun way to show their spirit.
ismonkah/Instagram
Winifred
What would Halloween be without Bette Midler’s character Winifred Sanderson in Hocus Pocus? Her character embodies the spooky, entertaining vibe of the holiday. It’s no wonder plenty of Halloween lovers have opted to have her likeness tattooed on them. “Another Winifred! I try not to do the same design twice, but I’m always happy to draw an alternate version of something if some flash of mine has already been claimed,” wrote the artist.
ladywolly/Instagram
Halloween Illusions
What’s real? What’s fake? Halloween often stirs us to think about the afterlife but other dimensions besides our own. This thought-provoking body art from Oregon-based tattoo artist Molly Vee has some vintage, feminine flair, as well as a nod to all things otherworldly.
AngeloParente/Instagram
Ghost & Pumpkin Tattoo
A ghost and a pumpkin with a pop of bright orange. Oh my! This eerie piece by tattoo artist Angelo Parente is perfect for anyone who wants their body art to fully reflect the spirit of the spooky season. It’s truly over-the-top!
blackworkworldwide/Instagram
The Headless Horseman
Washington Irving’s The Headless Horseman is a classic Halloween story that takes place in Sleepy Hollow. Traditional folklore holds that the Horseman was a Hessian trooper who was killed during the Battle of White Plains in 1776. But we also recognize the story as one told by Disney in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This gasp-worthy, dramatic work by Angelo Parente encapsulates the imagery of the tale.
chriskopera/Instagram
The Classic Jack-O’-Lantern
Jack-o’-lanterns are one of the most common symbols of Halloween. Of course, they make for a great tattoo. Add a feminine spin with flowers. Or step up the creepy factor with a moon, webs, and haunted house in the distance.
More from CafeMom: 16 BFF Halloween Costumes for the Ultimate Party Duo
stephanie_melbourne/Instagram
‘Beetlejuice’ Wisdom
When it comes to Halloween movies, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is a classic. It even landed on Broadway! This awesome tattoo combines some spooky imagery with one of the best quotes from the film. And just look at the detail on Barbara and Adam’s eerie faces.
goldlagrimas/Instagram
‘Trick ‘r Treat’
“I know summer isn’t over, but spooky season is here,” wrote this Instagram user. This vibrant, colorful illustration is from the film Trick ‘r Treat. Never heard of it? It’s a 2007 American anthology horror film written and directed by Michael Dougherty. But really, what embodies a spooky holiday more than an an iconic horror film?
chrismorristattoos/Instagram
Pumpkaboo
This is a great Halloween tattoo for Pokemon fans. Can we get him added to Pokemon Go?Pumpkaboo is just too adorable. And talk about the perfect ink for a Halloween lover!
More from CafeMom: 25 Halloween-Inspired Baby Names for Girls
alyxkopietattoos/Instagram
Spiderwebs
Spiderwebs make an awesome-looking design. They also happen to be a classic element of tattoos. In turn, they’re perfect for anyone who wants a more “subtle” Halloween tattoo. Here are four variations of webs that look eerily elegant.
seasonal_splendor/Instagram
Queen Status
For the most dedicated Halloween enthusiasts, claim a fitting title with this “Queen of Halloween” tattoo. The crowned pumpkin and bats are super-detailed. The imagery also works well with the text. Let’s face it: Anyone with this much dedication to the holiday deserves a crown!
brittxwhitman/Instagram
Black Kitty
If one has a love for cats is as strong as a love for October 31, then this cute kitten may be just the ticket. It’s classic imagery for this spooky holiday. Mystical black cats are the stars of the Halloween show, after all. And we love how the design also has a traditional feel.
blkndrose/Instagram
Friends Who Poison Together …
These BFF tattoos are haunting in the best way. The pink and purple teacups of poison are both adorable and spooky. The aesthetic brings to mind the Disney film Coco, as well as Day of the Dead or Día de Los Muertos. The Mexican holiday that usually falls around the same time as Halloween.
More from CafeMom: 16 Epic Best Friend Tattoos for You & Your Soul Sister
foreveryourstattoo/Instagram
Ghost Life
Sometimes the most obvious designs are the best. This little ghost makes a perfect ankle tattoo. The shading gives it dimension. And the red dots add some color.
djinjivillegas/Instagram
When Sharon Needles Is Bae
As the fabulously spooky drag queen Sharon Needles once said, “When in doubt, freak ’em out.” And certainly this tattoo ought to freak ’em out. That is, in the best possible way. It’s eye-catching any day — as well as on all Halloweens to come.
quarlophone/Instagram
Witch’s Broom
We don’t know about all y’all, but broomsticks are definitely our preferred mode of transportation. Candy corn, stars, and smoke were added to give this some extra detail. The color is also jaw-dropping. Come, we fly!
the_real_ginger_bunny/Instagram
Strolling Through Halloween Town Like …
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is definitely a Halloween classic. Plenty of people consider themselves lifelong fans of the cult movie. So, it wouldn’t be unusual to gravitate to a Nightmare-inspired ink. This illustration of Jack Skellington with his trusty companion Zero is the cutest!
More from CafeMom: 10 Easy Halloween Treats for Lunches, After-School Snacks & Class Parties
sanae_kawaii/Instagram
Hot & Dangerous
This sassy tatt is great for beauty lovers who have an undeniable dark side. Who knew lipstick and a scythe could look so good together? So goth. That cobweb on the lipstick tube is the perfect spooky Halloween touch.
sanae_kawaii/Instagram
Tastes Like Poison
Halloween art mixed with a Beyoncé quote? How could anyone possibly go wrong! We love how this tattoo looks like a truly devilish elixir. But it has a touch of humor, too.
jimmyhooligan59/Instagram
Witches Only
This witch tattoo is completely magical. Check out her outfit and the stars! And the cats and bats! All the details are perfectly placed.
rhihusty/Instagram
Baby Bat
Who says all Halloween tattoos have to be super spooky? This cute little bat looks like he’s ready to give everyone a hug. Given that Halloween is very much a holiday to be celebrated by little ones, spooky body art can absolutely come with a dash of innocence. The heart is a sweet touch to boot.
More from CafeMom: 36 Majorly Cool & Tiny Micro Tattoos
thelostgirl86/Instagram
Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus
Brooms and black kitties! This glowing green and black tat is filled with gasp-worthy details. It has an in-your-face appeal while managing to remain whimsical. Check out the golden shimmer on the “hocus pocus” lettering.
frankentooth/instagram
Death’s-Head Hawkmoth
The death’s-head hawkmoth is a real insect that gets its name from the skull-like marking on its thorax. So, of course the unusual creature makes a fitting Halloween symbol. It’s a perfect choice for horror film lovers and film gurus in general. Hello, Silence of the Lambs.
haleyshrinks/Instagram
Vampire Fangs
Fake vampire fangs don’t just belong in in the mouth. They can also look great on the arm. It’s the perfect tiny tatt! #VampLife
xxmermiaxx/Instagram
Creepy Little Things
A small finger tattoo can also be just as eye-catching as a bigger piece. These pumpkin and tooth tattoos are so much fun. Talk about festive imagery. That said, they’re also perfectly creepy for Halloween lovers.
