Tattoos and body markings carry different meanings across cultures. What\u2019s admired in one place can seem inappropriate elsewhere, and symbols rich with significance to some may appear meaningless to others.<\/p>\n
Humans have expressed themselves through appearance for as long as we\u2019ve existed, and today tattoos are everywhere\u2014some regretted, others deeply meaningful or tied to tradition.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m always intrigued when I see the same tattoo on many people. One design I\u2019ve often noticed, but only recently researched, is the \u201cred string of fate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Common in Asian cultures, this small red tattoo\u2014often on a man\u2019s thumb and a woman\u2019s pinky\u2014resembles a simple bow. It symbolizes the ancient tale of a matchmaker who knows the person each of us is destined to be with.<\/p>\n
Though the idea of fate and invisible bonds appears in many cultures, the red string of fate specifically suggests two people are destined lovers, regardless of distance or circumstance. Some find the idea comforting; others prefer to believe they shape their own destiny.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tattoos and body markings carry different meanings across cultures. What\u2019s admired in one place can seem inappropriate elsewhere, and symbols rich with significance to some may appear meaningless to others. Humans have expressed themselves through appearance for as long as we\u2019ve existed, and today tattoos are everywhere\u2014some regretted, others deeply meaningful or tied to tradition….<\/p>\n