Christmas is fast approaching, so if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift this year, look no further.
Join us as we bring to you some of the best Christmas Tattoo Designs the internet has to offer.
Table of Contents
What Does A Christmas Tattoo Mean
Christmas is celebrated annually on December 25th, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
While it is celebrated by Christians worldwide, it has also become a secular cultural event where those celebrating use festive decorations, give gifts to one another, and take part in various other traditions.
Over time, Christmas has changed to include customs like decorating Christmas trees, hanging stockings, and exchanging gifts.
A Christmas Tattoo can be a symbol of your appreciation and love of the titled ‘Most wonderful time of the year,’ with whichever tattoo you choose to adorn yourself being a reflection of your favorite aspects of the holiday.
Best Christmas Tattoo Ideas
Now that we know a little about Christmas Tattoos let’s take a look at some of the best Christmas Tattoo Designs we could fund.
Candy Cane Christmas Tattoo
@geniekittietattoo
Candy canes are a peppermint-flavored Christmas treat that has a sweet, minty taste and a crisp texture.
While their origins are unclear, they are believed to have started as simple white sugar sticks in the 17th century.
Today, candy canes are used as treats and decorations, now seen as a quintessential Christmas motif for Christmas trees, wreaths, or placed around the house to add a holiday touch.
Christmas Tree Tattoo
@tattooist__lala
One of the most iconic Christmas symbols, Christmas trees are typically evergreen trees like fir, spruce, or pine, decorated with lights, ornaments, tinsel, and sometimes an angel or star on top.
While the tradition of using evergreen trees dates back to ancient times when they symbolized life and endurance in winter, the modern Christmas tree tradition originated in 16th-century Germany, where devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.
Santa Tattoo
@tattoosbymissiblue
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, or simply Santa, is the jolly magical man who brings gifts to children around the world every Christmas.
Santa lives in the North Pole with Mrs. Claus, a team of hardworking elves, and a stable of flying reindeer.
On the night of Christmas Eve, Santa embarks on his mission to deliver gifts to all the good children, guided by letters sent to him that tell of what gifts each child hopes to receive.
Snow Globe Christmas Tattoo
@migtatou
While the first known snow globe was created in France in the late 19th century, the design really took off until the early 20th century in Austria.
There Erwin Perzy, a surgical instrument maker, developed the globe while trying to improve light bulbs.
The globes quickly gained popularity, becoming a symbol of holiday joy and a charming keepsake.
Gingerbreadman Christmas Tattoo
@alex.bituna
Gingerbread men are festive treats made from a spicy, sweet mixture of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and molasses.
These cookies are baked and then decorated with icing, candies, or chocolate to create expressive designs.
Gingerbread men trace back to England in the 16th century, where Queen Elizabeth I was said to have had gingerbread cookies baked in the likeness of her guests as a treat.
The Grinch Christmas Tattoo
@angeloparente
The Grinch is a character created by Dr. Seuss in his 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The Grinch is a grumpy, green creature who detests Christmas and everything associated with it, particularly the joyful celebrations of the people of Whoville.
He decides to “steal” Christmas by taking away the Whos’ decorations, gifts, and holiday treats, believing this will end their Christmas cheer.
Reindeer Christmas Tattoo
@curlsjrtattoos
This Animal Tattoo is off Santa’s reindeer, the team of magical flying reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, helping him deliver gifts to children around the world.
Santa has nine reindeer, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph, the reindeer with a shiny red nose.
Snowman Christmas Tattoo
@bonefairi
While the origin of building snowmen is unclear, they have been popular in winter cultures for centuries.
One of the earliest known artistic depictions of a snowman dates back to the Middle Ages, and over time, building snowmen became a winter pastime for families, especially during the holiday season. You can see more Snowman Tattoos here!
Nutcracker Christmas Tattoo
@traditionalkings
Nutcrackers are decorative figurines that have become associated with Christmas.
These tools are traditionally designed to resemble soldiers, kings, or guards with stern expressions and bright uniforms.
Originally crafted in Germany in the 17th century, these nutcrackers were functional tools used to crack nuts with a lever mechanism in the figure’s mouth.
However, over time they became popular as decorative items due to their intricate craftsmanship and festive look.
Krampus Christmas Tattoo
@jessicavtattoos
This Mythological Tattoo is of Krampus, a figure from Central European folklore.
Unlike Santa, who rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus is a creature who punishes those who have misbehaved serving as a counterpart to St. Nicholas, embodying the concept of consequences for naughty behavior.
Christmas Cat Tattoo
@ahmetbagcink
If you love cats, then you will love this adorable Christmas Cat Tattoo Design. Anybody who owns a cat is probably very familiar with their cat’s curiosity any time you put your tree up. This often leads to the cat jumping into the tree, knocking off some of the baubles, and potentially, like this Tattoo Design, getting tangled in the lights.
The Snowman Christmas Tattoo
@phoen.inks
The Snowman is a British animated film released in 1982, based on the 1978 children’s book by Raymond Briggs.
The story follows a young boy who builds a snowman on Christmas Eve, only to have it magically come to life that night.
The two embark on a magical adventure, flying through the air over snowy landscapes and meeting other snowmen before visiting Father Christmas himself.
Ghost Christmas Tattoo
@xaz_tattoo
If you love the thematically opposing festivities equally, then why not get yourself a Christmas X Halloween Tattoo?
This cute little design features a typical ‘sheet’ ghost design that is popular with depicting ghosts in cartoons or illustrations, but this time with a Christmas pattern across it.
Dinosaur Christmas Tattoo
@tattoosbymissiblue
If you love the prehistoric rulers of our planet then why not treat yourself this Christmas to a Dinosaur Tattoo?
Winter during the dinosaur era, spanning the Mesozoic Era (about 252 to 66 million years ago), was likely quite different from what we experience today.
The climate was generally warmer and more humid, with higher levels of carbon dioxide creating a “greenhouse effect.”
This meant that, for most of the Mesozoic, winters were milder, with little to no freezing temperatures, even in areas closer to the poles.
Olaf Tattoo
@muffin_tattoo
This Disney Tattoo is of Olaf, a character from Disney’s 2013 film Frozen.
Olaf is brought to life as a symbol of Elsa’s joyful childhood memories with her sister, Anna.
He is known for his childlike innocence, boundless optimism, and a love for all things summer despite being a snowman who would naturally melt in the heat!
Vulpix Pokemon Tattoo
@morganeskyetattoo
This Pokemon Tattoo is off the Alolan variant of Vulpix, the 37th Pokemon in the Pokedex.
Vulpix are born with a single tail that beginnings to split as it grows older, and hotter the closer it is to evolving.
In the region of Alola, Vulpix adapted to the colder climates developing a white coat and changing from fire powers to ice powers.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Tattoo
@bigluketattoo
The Nightmare Before Christmas released in 1993, is a classic stop-motion film by Ti Burton.
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, becomes bored with his annual Halloween routine and stumbles upon Christmas Town.
Enchanted by the new festive atmosphere, Jack decides to take over Christmas, but his Halloween-themed approach leads to chaos when he tries to replace Santa Claus.
Disney Christmas Tattoo
@saegeemtattoo
If you want your Christmas Tattoo to be Disney inspired, but don’t want to be limited to just one franchise, try out something like this cute Disney-themed Christmas tree Tattoo Design.
This cute design has your standard Christmas tree adorned with characters from Disney’s catalog of characters such as Stitch, Donald Duck, Nick Wilde, and Chip and Dale.
Home Alone Christmas Tattoo
@bigluketattoo
Home Alone is a Christmas comedy film released in 1990, directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes.
The story follows eight-year-old Kevin McCallister who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on a holiday trip to Paris.
At first, Kevin revels in his newfound freedom, however, things take a turn when two burglars, Harry and Marv target his home, believing it’s empty.
Attack On Titan Christmas Tattoo
@guyeigel
If you love Anime Tattoos then you’ll love this hilarious Attack on Titan Christmas-themed tattoo.
In this piece, rather than a collosol Titan poking its head out of the walls of Paradis, instead, it is the Gingerbread man from the Shrek series.
The Muppets Christmas Tattoo
@curlsjrtattoos
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic novella A Christmas Carol, brought to life by Jim Henson’s Muppets.
The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future on Christmas Eve.
These spirits guide Scrooge through his own memories and show him the consequences of his cold-hearted ways, ultimately leading him to change.
Maple Tree Christmas Tattoo
@tattooist_namoo
This cute little Christmas Tattoo features a snowman next to a maple tree.
Maple trees are a group of deciduous trees known for their vibrant autumn foliage and distinct leaf shape.
There are over 120 species found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Maples are famous for their iconic, lobed leaves, which typically have five pointed sections and turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow in the fall, adding spectacular color to landscapes.
The Year Without Santa Claus Tattoo
@cyncityink
The Year Without a Santa Claus is a stop-motion animated TV special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, that first aired in 1974.
Based on a 1956 book by Phyllis McGinley, the story centers around a weary Santa Claus who feels unappreciated and decides to take a year off from delivering presents.
Two of Santa’s loyal elves, Jingle and Jangle, along with his reindeer, Vixen, set out to find proof that people still believe in Santa and the holiday spirit.
Along the way, they encounter the memorable characters Heat Miser and Snow Miser, two feuding brothers who control the weather.
Gizmo Christmas Tattoo
@sola.kaida
Gizmo is a Mogwai from the 1984 film Gremlins.
He is gifted to a young man named Billy Peltzer as an unusual Christmas present but comes with three strict rules: keep him away from bright light, don’t get him wet, and never, ever feed him after midnight.
When these rules are accidentally broken, Gizmo’s seemingly harmless nature takes a dark turn.
Exposure to water causes him to spawn other Mogwai, and feeding after midnight turns these Mogwai into mischievous, dangerous Gremlins.
Where To Get Your Christmas Tattoo
Design is one thing, but you also need to consider where you want to get your Christmas Tattoo.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best places to get your potential new festive ink.
Thigh Christmas Tattoo
Thigh Tattoos are a terrific choice for first-time tattooers who are worried about feeling pain.
This location has a lot of fat and muscle which will dampen the needles stabbing pain leading to a more pleasurable experience.
Christmas Tattoo On The Arm
@ovenlee.tattoo
Arm Tattoos are another fantastic choice for first-time tattooers.
Like the thigh, most of the places on the arm have a lot of muscle to help dampen pain except for the hinge of the arm or the elbow.
Leg With Christmas Tattoo
@brynneadair
Other parts of the leg other than the thigh are similar to that of the arm.
Unfortunately, like the thigh, leg tattoos aren’t as easily shown off as locations such as the arm unless you live in a warmer climate.
Christmas Wrist Tattoo
Wrist Tattoos are extremely feminine and gracious sitting delicately at the end of the arm.
While these tattoos look extremely pretty, they can be rather painful despite their small size due to the proximity to the bone, veins are nerves in the wrist.
Christmas Tattoo On The Feet
@corderosimona
Lastly, the feet are a unique location to get your Christmas tattoo.
This location isn’t for the faint of heart as it will be one of the more painful locations to get inked and one of the more difficult locations to show off in its entirety unless you have revealing footwear.
Conclusion
So ends our quest to deliver you some of the finest Christmas Tattoo Designs. We hope with our help you’ve been inspired to gift yourself the perfect Tattoo this Christmas.
But hey, if Christmas Tattoos still don’t inspire you, why not check out some other Tattoo Designs such as our Sunset Tattoos our Studio Ghibli Tattoos, or our Dragon Tattoo ideas.
