Unveiling the Hidden Meaning Behind Awareness Ribbon Tattoos
Are you considering getting an awareness ribbon tattoo but unsure of what it symbolizes? Or maybe you’ve seen a ribbon tattoo on someone but don’t understand its significance? In this article, we will dive into the meaning behind awareness ribbon tattoos and the different colors they come in.
What are Awareness Ribbon Tattoos?
Awareness ribbon tattoos are designed to promote awareness and show support for various causes or diseases. The first ribbon design was created in the 1970s by the Penney Laingen, wife of a hostage in the Iran crisis, who tied a yellow ribbon around a tree to symbolize her hope for her husband’s return. Since then, ribbons have been adopted as symbols for many different causes and movements, and tattoos have become one of the most popular ways to display them permanently.
The Different Colors and Their Meanings
Awareness ribbons come in many different colors, each representing a specific cause or disease. Here are some of the most common ribbon colors used in tattoos and their meanings:
Pink
Pink ribbons are associated with breast cancer awareness. This color is often seen during the month of October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Red
Red ribbons represent awareness for HIV/AIDS and drug addiction. It’s also used to show support for those affected by heart disease.
Purple
Purple ribbons are associated with many different causes, including Alzheimer’s disease, lupus, pancreatic cancer, and epilepsy.
Blue
Blue ribbons are often used for child abuse prevention awareness, as well as autism awareness and colon cancer awareness.
Green
Green ribbons represent awareness for organ and tissue donation, as well as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Gold
Gold ribbons are often used to raise awareness for childhood cancer, and to show support for families and children affected by the disease.
Orange
Orange ribbons represent awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS) and leukemia.
Teal
Teal ribbons are for ovarian cancer awareness, sexual assault and rape awareness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness.
Yellow
Yellow ribbons are associated with hope, and are often used to show support for our troops and their families. It is also used for suicide prevention awareness.
Conclusion
Awareness ribbon tattoos are a meaningful way to show your support for a cause or disease that has affected your life or the life of someone you love. Each color has its own unique meaning, and by getting a ribbon tattoo, you can bring awareness to important issues and promote positive change in the world. Whatever your reason for getting a ribbon tattoo, it’s important to remember the cause it represents and the impact that it can have.