Edinburgh's Military Tattoo: one of the city's most historic festivals

Every August, Edinburgh turns into festival city, and one of the most popular festive celebrations is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Annually, over 200, 000 people visit the Tattoo, set on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, to show their support for one of the most well-known and historic of Edinburgh's Festivals.

The Edinburgh Tattoo officially began in 1950, with only eight events on the programme. However, the tradition of the tattoo has its roots in the seventeenth century, when British Army units were stationed in the Low Countries of Scotland. Drummers from each garrison were sent into towns every evening to summon the soldiers of the army to return to their barracks, in a ritual that was known as 'Doe den tap toe' (or simply 'tap toe').

Today, the Edinburgh Tattoo has turned into an enormous international event that showcases the best in Scottish and global talent. Over the years, various international military regiments - and even some African tribes - have performed, a tradition begun in 1952 when the Royal Netherlands Grenadiers were invited to participate in the show. Over 30 countries have been represented in the Tattoo so far, and its audience is just as eclectic. It is estimated that 30 per cent of the Edinburgh Tattoo's audience is from Scotland, with another 35 per cent from the UK. The remaining 35 per cent of the audience originates in countries outside the UK, with another 100 million viewers watching the TV broadcast of the event worldwide.

For many people, the highlight of the Edinburgh Tattoo is the massed pipes and drums provided by regiments from both the British Army and global armies with Scottish links. Every evening during each performance of the Tattoo, the show concludes with a flag-lowering ceremony, which is accompanied by bugles sounding the Last Post (or the "Sunset bugle call of the Royal Marines), and ultimately ends with a lone piper in a single spotlight playing on the walls of Edinburgh Castle.

While the Edinburgh Tattoo sells out months in advance every year, the 2005 Tattoo proved especially popular. This was because the 2005 event was the last time all six infantry regiments of the Scottish Division appeared at the Tattoo, before being amalgamated into the single Royal Regiment of Scotland. 2005 also saw the largest gathering of pipes and drums in the event's history.

For anyone thinking about visiting during the Edinburgh festivals season to see the Military Tattoo, late ticket or accommodation bookings can be difficult, however many of the online travel or short break sites, such as Superbreak, frequently have special offers on hotels in Edinburgh and Tattoo ticket deals on offer, so even you won't be left out. So, what are you waiting for? Visit Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Military Tattoo for some of the best in military entertainment


About the Author

Andrew Regan began his career in Advertising, Film and Television and worked for 20 years at the HTV studios.

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Get Thousands Of Beautiful Categorized Tattoo Designs Easily...

Have you been wanting to get a tattoo but don't have an exact idea or not sure what you want? Tattoos are so popular and there are so many ideas but many of us feel stuck at times on the exact tattoo we want to get.

I see a lot of cool designs that I like at the time but when I start thinking about the having it permanently done I start to change my mind and look for something else.

Others have the idea or rough plan of what they want but they can't find any good source material or flash that matches what they want. Some of our customers state that they have spent months looking for a certain tattoo design. They look through all of the flash sites and etc. but still can not find what they are looking for.

This is a huge problem, you end up wasting a lot of time and feeling frustrated. However there are some simple ways around
this problem.

1. First you should always pull ideas for tattoos from things that you like or are into. Don't go and get a tattoo just because you saw someone with one and you thought he or she was cool. A tattoo will be with you forever and so it should be something from you not from outside. Along these lines don't do the stupid thing of going out to get a tattoo with a friend and be pressured into getting the same thing he or she gets just because you don't want to look stupid. Tattoos are permanent and therefore should state something about you and what you love. Therefore if you spend time just thinking about the things you like and things that you identify yourself with you are likely to come up with some great ideas.

2. Once you have some rough ideas it is typically time to go online and look for some images. Now lets take the Cherry blossom for example. Some place you could look for a tattoo would be clip art. You can search using Google's image search feature or go to Microsoft online clipart gallery. Either place you can find either a clip art drawn piece or actual source photos. Both will lead you to some good source materials that will help in the design stage.

3. Next you want to take you source materials (photos or clip art) and show them to a tattoo artists. You might also try some initial sketches if you are artistically inclined. Even something with simple line art or pigeon scratches can tell you tattoo artists a lot about what you are looking for. So take everything you got and show it to your tattoo artist and then let them design the tattoo for you. Remember the more accurate and detailed you can be with your description the more happy you are going to be with the results and the whole process will be much easier.

4. Most tattoo artists will then provide you with an actual design shaded in and with color and the line art of the design. If you are getting this done online then you can take that to your local tattoo parlor and find some one to do the actual tattoo for you. Often you can also ask for referrals from the original tattoo artists. Typically they can do the work themselves if you live within driving range.

If you take these steps into consideration and actually do a littlebit of homework and find your source materials and provide lots of details about what you are looking for then you are sure to get the design of your dreams. Thinking about getting your first tattoo or looking into a new tattoo design? Whatever the tattoo design is that you want to get it is important to think before you ink. Do some research and spend some time contemplating the tattoo. That way you are not going to regret it.

Unfortunately there are tons of people out there that do not thinkbefore getting a tattoo and later end up regretting them.
Top 5 reasons people state for wanting to get rid of a tattoo.

1. Got the tattoo while out with friends drunk.

2. I was young when I got it.

3. It really was not the design I wanted.

4. It is too common and doesn't speak to me anymore.

5. The symbol is wrong or I did not know what it stood for.

These are so common that we have come across people that are getting cover up tattoos for all of the above reasons. So spend some time thinking about your tattoo and do some research on the design. It is way better then regretting the design for the rest of your life.Well, like all great questions in life and in the world of tattoo design the decision really is your to make. It will be your tattoo and one that you will live with for a long time.


About the Author

My name is Nick Lim and I want to thank you for reading myarticle.Take three minutes and visit to this site can easily browse through thousands of beautiful categorized tattoo designs from the comfort of your home!
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Popular Tattoos For Men & Women

When you walk into a tattoo parlor, you are instantly greeted with eye-catching designs filled with color and complexity. Unless you have already decided on a design, it can be very difficult to select one on the spot. Even if you have a selected design already in mind, the artist may present you with varying possibilities that will present you with a difficult decision.

Before arriving for your tattoo, it is a good idea to have a selection of designs that you are interested in. Men and women will naturally select different images whereas the gentleman may prefer a masculine and powerful tattoo and the woman may prefer something dainty and pretty. For example, a gentleman may prefer a large tattoo with a lot of color or something that symbolizes the love that he shares for his wife or girlfriend. It is advisable that tattoo recipients give careful consideration to personalized tattoos. Why? If the relationship ends later, the tattoo will still remain unless it is surgically removed. Therefore, many gentlemen are electing to have symbols that remind them of something that they enjoy, such as a career, a hobby or a symbol that means something special to their life.

Women who decide to have a permanent tattoo will often select a dainty image, such as a heart, butterfly or floral depiction. These are small and can be placed anywhere, but most commonly are located on the hip, ankle or back of the shoulder area. Women typically select a smaller tattoo in an effort to make a statement of beauty and yet something that draws attention to a certain area, such as the leg or hip.

Even with these thoughts in mind, a tattoo is a very personal thing and must be a reflection of something that is important to the recipient. Therefore, there really isn’t a universal ‘man’ or ‘woman’ tattoo. Upon discussing various choices with the artist, a tattoo recipient will gain a better understanding of options and design choices. In addition, they will be able to browse through an image book or folder that will show a number of different tattoo choices, which will enable them to better decide which is right for them.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or recommendations for tattoo placement. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

About the Author

Find more about dragonfly tattoos, scorpion tattoos and many other tattoo designs on http://www.tattoos-gallery.com/

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The Risks Associated With Getting A Tattoo

While many tattoos are given with success, there are some that do not have such a happy outcome. There are risks of getting a tattoo that cannot be discounted. Among them, the risk of contracting a disease from unsanitary equipment. In addition, a tattoo recipient may be subject to a skin infection if the tattoo is not properly cleaned and cared for after it’s creation.

Any type of problems that may arise as a result of getting a tattoo will likely have to be handled with the help of a licensed physician. This may include medication to treat any illness or infection that may occur. In addition to the immediate concerns, there may be a later need for a physician if the tattoo recipient should later decide to have it removed. In this scenario, the only way to remove a tattoo is through surgery.

If a tattoo recipient decides to have the image removed, there are even more risks associated with surgery. And, since the surgery is to remove a tattoo, these risks may be considered as a direct result of the tattoo itself. With tattoo removal, the patient may experience either an out-patient or brief stay in the hospital. This will depend on whether or not any complications occur during surgery. Some of the most common risks associated with surgery include infection, allergic reactions to medication or permanent scarring. Depending on the health of the patient, more serious complications may arise and questions relating to these possibilities will be addressed by a qualified physician.

A cosmetic risk, but not necessarily one relating to health, is the possibility that a tattoo artist is not experienced and may not properly design or seal the tattoo. If a design is not done properly, it can look unprofessional and may be an embarrassment to the tattoo recipient. While this may not present a direct health risk, it may force the patient to attempt ways at covering the tattoo that he/she had once planned to showcase. If a tattoo is done incorrectly, some customers may elect for removal surgery and this can carry the risks as mentioned above.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

About the Author

Find more about dragonfly tattoos, scorpion tattoos and many other tattoos designs on tattoos-gallery.com

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How to choose an tattoo artist

How to choose an tattoo artist? here are a few suggestions you should consider.

Needless to say, finding the right tattoist to do your tattoo work is very important to a successful piece of body art. Remember, this is the only body you have and it can never be taken seriously enough when choosing an tattooist. Here are a few ways you should consider when selecting your tattooist:

1. Read Tattoo Books and Tattoo Magzines

There are many different tattoo publications in the book store or library, go buy or burrow a few and look through the materials. The best one will educate you, inspire you, and expose you to a wide variety of work from artists all over the world.

2. Talk to Your Friends,Relatives or Somebody on the Street That haveTattoo Style You Like

Paying attention to other people's work. Ask the people who had tattoo done about: who did the work for them? how long ago did they have the tattoo done? Would they recommend the tatttoist to you? Why and why not?

Tattoo fans are usually very opinionated about artists, styles and trends, they will have a lot to say on these subjects, learn from somebody else's success or failure.

3. Visit Local Tattoo Parlors

Stop and look around at your local tattoo shops, walk in and ask questions, ask to see examples to the artist's work.. If a tattoo studio won't let you look around or answer your questions, they are probably too busy to accommodate you at that moment. In this case, make an appointment to come back at an approperiate time.

4. Attend Tattoo Conventions, Tattoo Expos and Tattoo Shows

Attending one of the many annual body-art conventions, expos and shows will give you great opportunities to see many of the artists in your area, as well as artists from all over the world.

Go talk to the tattoo artist you think has the best talent for the style you choose, you can probably even get your tattoo done at the scene with a reasonable price.

5. Contact Your Favorite Tattooist via Emails or Phone Calls

Many artists travel extensively and spend time tattooing as "guest artists" in reputable tattoo studios around the world. If you are interested in getting work by an artist who lives far from you, call or write and ask whether she/he will be coming to your area sometime in the near future. You may save yourself a lot of time and travel expenses, and spend that money on getting the best quality tattoo.

About the Author

http://www.tattoo-symbol-design.com/- the starting place for exploring and learning all about tattoos, tattoo ideas, tattoo design concept, tattoo supplies and equipments.

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