Cherry Tattoos (Cherry Blossom)

Cherry tattoos come in a variety of looks, but the most common cherry design tattoo shows one or two red, ripe cherries on a long stem – maybe topped off with a little leaf.

In current Western culture, cherry is most often used as a slang term for virginity – so a cherry tattoo will most likely be interpreted as having sexual overtones. Interestingly, the slang term could have originated from early Christian belief, which viewed cherries as the “Fruit of Paradise.” Early Christian art often showed the infant Jesus – he of the virgin birth who was pure at heart – as holding cherries. From that innocent (literally!) beginning, the cherry/virginity link turned into a less-than-holy metaphor. But there really is more history and interest than that.

There are over 400 species of cherries, and they have long been seen as a source of nutrition and medicine. Many men suffer from gout, the “disease of kings” in which uric acid deposits (often caused by consuming too much red meat and alcohol) crystallize in the joints. Normally striking the big toe, anyone who has suffered from gout will tell you it is unbelievably painful. They will also tell you that they start eating cherries immediately as a cure.

One interesting historical story is that Sacagawea was eating (choke)cherries when she was kidnapped and sold as a slave. Eventually, she ended up with explorers Lewis and Clark, and joined them on their famous expedition across early America.

In western folklore, the cherry tree is a symbol for education. A white cherry tree, however, is a symbol for deception. And, of course, it was a cherry tree that was allegedly chopped down by a young George Washington. When asked who chopped down the tree, the future first president of the United States reportedly told his father, “I cannot tell a lie,” and fessed up.

Cherry Blossom Tattoos

In China, the cherry blossom is the official flower of April, and symbolizes good education, hope, youth (and the upheavals of puberty), virility, and feminine beauty.

In Japan, the cherry blossom is the official flower of March, and symbolizes prosperity, wealth and riches. It is also an emblem of bushido, the warrior code of the samurai. Because the blossom is so short-lived, the fallen flower stands as a symbol to warriors who died young.

If thinking about a samurai tattoo, it would be appropriate to include both cherries and cherry blossoms. While the blossoms symbolized the fleeting life of the warrior, the cherry itself symbolizes the need to crush the fruit (i.e. sacrifice the flesh) to reach the pit (i.e. the core of the human). For more information on Cherry Tattoos or Cherry Blossom Tattoos, see the resources listed on our Reference Page.

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