A long time ago, a fierce and cruel dragon came from the skies to desolate a small kingdom. He ate every living creature unfortunate enough to cross his path and burned every house and forest, leaving only a path of ashes behind. The inhabitants of the kingdom organized to defeat the beast, but their efforts were futile. Realizing their helplessness, they offered the creature two sheep a day to calm his wrath and satiate his hunger. In exchange, the dragon would leave them in peace.
At first, the plan worked perfectly. However, as time went by, the kingdom started to run out of sheep to offer. So, they decided to try with other cattle and a person per family. For every tribute, the victim’s family received all kinds of treasures as payment. Every day villagers would say goodbye to someone for the sake of everyone else’s lives. Days passed until the time came for the royal family to offer someone as bait. The chosen one was the princess, who was loved and respected by the people for her kindness and beauty.
The ancient Spanish-Turkish legend says that when the dragon was about to devour her, someone descended from the sky to rescue her. It was Saint George, an important saint of the region. He drew his sword and stabbed the beast in his head. From his blood sprouted a big and beautiful red rose. It’s said that St. George took the flower and offered it to the princess as a token of her beauty, braveness, and candor.
To commemorate this fantastic legend, every year on April 23 some parts of Spain –like Catalonia and Aragon– celebrate St. George’s deeds. This celebration consists of men giving roses to women. These not only symbolize love and respect, but also bravery, femininity, and the confidence they possess. This flower also represents a sort of rebirth or a new beginning, since the rose came from the blood of a slain dragon.
It’s not surprising that in most cases women with tattooed roses are confident people. This tattoo is worn by those who know themselves and are capable of embuing each of their actions with beauty. Having this particular flower represents courage and womanhood.
The meaning of roses in black ink can vary, but it’s always related to an extraordinary female power. For example, thorns are the reminder of how painful love or life itself is, but the petals of a rose represent a renewal.
These tattoos embody honor and bravery. They’re a reminder of the princess, glorified by St. George, inside each of us.
Roses are also associated with Aphrodite, who like the princess from the legend, was rich in sensuality, femininity, and confidence. This design is a powerful yet delicate symbol. Moreover, it’s also a beautiful representation of many kinds of love, like that between a couple, friends, or within a family.
If you like tattoos that represent women’s empowerment, take a look at these.
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Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
