This Is Why We Pierce Our Ears (2024)

It's a tradition as old as time—or at least recorded history.

By Sarah Crow

December 10, 2018

This Is Why We Pierce Our Ears (1)

By Sarah Crow

December 10, 2018

This Is Why We Pierce Our Ears (2)

If leaving the house without a pair of earrings on feels akin to walking outside half-nude, you're not alone. While there are few definitive statistics on the matter, it's frequently reported that between 80 and 90 percent of American women have their ears pierced, with a growing population of men joining that number. But one question remains: Why do we pierce our ears at all?

While body modifications may seem like a relatively new trend to the uninitiated, ear piercing has been a global tradition for millennia. In fact, Ötzi, a man thought to have died around 3300 B.C.E.—whose mummified remains were found in the Europe's Ötzal Alps in 1991—not only had pierced ears, but had stretched his ear lobes, as well. (These days, widely stretched ear-lobe holes due to piercing are known as "gauges.")

What's more, though it's well-established that individuals have been adorning their ears with jewelry for thousands of years—there are even mentions of earrings in the Bible—the reasoning behind the choice to do so is significantly linked to the particular culture of whomever is getting their ears pierced.

The most common reason behind this particular form of body modification is simple: It was once a means of identifying individuals as upper-class or even nobility, specifically during Egypt's Thutmosid Dynasty (1549 to 1292 B.C.E.), the Bronze Age Minoan Civilization, and in both ancient Rome and ancient Greece. Members of the ruling class would adorn their ears with jewels and precious metals, or pendants in the form of deities, to indicate their status.

While earrings eventually lost ties with nobility throughout Europe by the 16th century, it was during this time that men increasingly started wearing them, largely as a fashion statement. Sailors were among the groups who pioneered this trend among men, with many sailors given their first piercing to commemorate their initial crossing of the equator—the reason we associate earrings with pirates today.

However, earrings eventually fell out of fashion, with both Europeans and North Americans piercing their ears less by the early-to-mid 20th century, when clip-on earrings overtook their pierced counterparts in terms of popularity. It wasn't until the 1960s that earrings once again saw an uptick in popularity in the United States, with members of American counterculture movements, like hippies, leading the charge.

Today, while most ear piercings in the United States are done primarily for the sake of fashion, there are still cultural traditions influencing the practice—especially among young children. Hindu children, both male and female, will often have their ears pierced as part of the Karnavedha ceremony, one of the religion's rites of passage. Piercing also remains a fixture in Latin American countries, and among Latinx groups in the United States, with girls frequently getting their ears pierced in infancy as a cultural tradition.

So, what's behind the push to pierce for everyone else?

"Some people like the aesthetics, for some people it's tradition, and for some people it hinges widely on gender roles," says Victoria Rothman, a piercer at Graceland Tattoo in Wappingers Falls, New York. "For a lot of older piercers, it was rebellion, but now, as it moves into the mainstream, it's not so much that anymore."

And as for where people prefer to have their piercings done these days, most folks are looking past the kiosk at their local mall. "The Association of Professional Piercers works pretty actively at steering children away from having their ears pierced in malls with piercing guns," says Rothman, noting the detrimental effects of the practice, from lopsided piercings to tissue damage. "There's been a huge influx in parents bringing their children to tattoo shops instead." And if you're thinking about some body modifications of your own, check out these 100 Amazing Tattoos for First-Timers.

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Sarah Crow

Sarah Crow is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, where she focuses on celebrity news and health coverage. Readmore

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This Is Why We Pierce Our Ears (2024)

FAQs

This Is Why We Pierce Our Ears? ›

People of all ages get their ears pierced for different reasons. For some people, the choice to pierce is about fashion and expression, but for others, ear piercing is a matter of tradition. Ear piercing is most people's first experience with piercing.

Why do we get our ears pierced? ›

People of all ages get their ears pierced for different reasons. For some people, the choice to pierce is about fashion and expression, but for others, ear piercing is a matter of tradition. Ear piercing is most people's first experience with piercing.

What is the Hindu piercing ritual? ›

Carrying a kavadi involves some kind of body piercing to secure it. This ritual of self-sacrifice, and the trancelike state devotees enter into when their skin is being pierced, is intended to defeat inner demons and gain Lord Murugan's blessing.

What piercing helps with vertigo? ›

So in other words, it is possible that if you suffer from motion sickness and dizziness, this piercing may help alleviate your symptoms. So, whether you're looking for some motion sickness relief, or are just looking for a piercing that will make you stand out as an original, the Anti-Tragus is the piercing for you!

What does ear piercing mean in the Bible? ›

For virtually everyone today, though, piercing is mainly a fashion statement. The Bible describes a tradition of piercing ears, but that was not done for protection or fashion reasons. In Exodus 21, we find a rule requiring that after seven years, a Hebrew servant was to be set free.

What is the purpose of wearing earrings? ›

First, it's important to understand that earrings, especially those made of gold, are believed to have healing properties. But not for just the body—the piercing itself is said to heal the mind, bringing the wearer good luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Why is everyone getting pierced? ›

Because it Looks Good

The number one reason most people in any culture get their body pierced is purely aesthetic reasons. Body piercings can be a great way to emphasize certain parts of the body. It's a great form of self-expression and can give people a significant boost in their confidence.

What does a piercing symbolize? ›

The definition of piercing is “the insertion of jewelry into various parts of one's body.” Historically, in may societies piercing has been considered a symbol of royalty and elitism or even virility and courage; some even believe that pierced ears can ward off the evil eye.

What was the Mayan piercing ritual? ›

The bloodletting ritual was used as a way to communicate with the gods and ancestors. The piercing in bloodletting rituals was for religious reasons, but the practice of non-religious piercing was common in the Mayan world. The most popular places to get pierced included the ears, lips, septum, and nose.

What is the religion for piercings? ›

The Church of Body Modification is a non-theistic religion with approximately 3,500 members in the United States.
...
Church of Body Modification
Official websiteChurch of Body Modification Official Website
5 more rows

What piercing is for anxiety? ›

The daith piercing is an increasingly popular option to treat migraines, anxiety, and some other symptoms. On social media, people may come across images of this unique piercing on the inner ear, alongside promises that it will ease anxiety and improve quality of life.

What piercing helps with depression? ›

Shen Men Piercing

This piercing is known as 'the divine gate'. This point which is located as a specific point near the top-centre cartilage of the ear is known to calm anxiety, boost immunity, relieve migraines, centre the body, and reduce depression.

Is there an ear piercing for depression? ›

In theory, getting a daith piercing will place constant pressure on your vagus nerve. Some health conditions, like depression and epilepsy, have been proven to respond to vagus nerve stimulation.

Do Catholics pierce their ears? ›

Catholic Teaching

In terms of moral guidance, the Church's teaching authority doesn't say anything explicitly about tattoos or body piercings. Neither practice is strictly prohibited, nor considered intrinsically evil.

What does Jesus say about the ear? ›

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

Why did Jesus put the ear back on? ›

Why? Because Malchus job was to always go back to the High priest to report what he had seen and heard in the land. What Jesus did was literally put Malchus's authority and power back so he could go back and tell The High Priest, "This Jesus of Nazareth, whom we are trying to kill, put my ear BACK ON!"

What gender wore earrings first? ›

Ancient Sumerian women's earrings are the earliest earrings archaeologists have discovered—they date from perhaps 2500 B.C.E. and are typically gold hoops. Earrings of twisted wire, beads, and pendants were popular in the Aegean, Crete, and Cyprus.

Why should you take your earrings out at night? ›

Torn skin. During sleep, your earrings can get caught on your bedding or hair. As you move around, you could risk tearing your earlobe. Large earrings, as well as styles with openings like hoops and dangles, can further increase this risk.

What do blue earrings mean? ›

The most sought-after colored gemstone in the world, a blue sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity and loyalty. This is one of the reasons why sapphire is a popular choice for engagement rings. A pair of natural blue sapphire earrings is the perfect gift for a loved one to express your love and loyalty towards them.

What is the most loved piercing? ›

The most popular types of piercings
  • Helix piercing. ...
  • Standard lobe piercing. ...
  • Tragus piercing. ...
  • Conch piercing. ...
  • Industrial piercing. ...
  • Surface tragus piercing. ...
  • Snakebite piercing. ...
  • Nipple piercing.
Jul 6, 2022

Why do humans like piercings? ›

For some youth, body piercing provides them a way to adorn their body and to enhance their appearance. Others are interested in body piercing as a way to express their independence, to stand-out from the crowd, and even to shock people or call attention to themselves.

What piercings reject the most? ›

Surface piercings such as eyebrows, neck, nipple and wrist tend to be rejected more easily than other piercings. That's because they do not travel directly through the body, but rather along an area of skin because the jewellery is puncturing only a small amount of the skin's surface.

What does pierced left ear mean? ›

In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a saying recited by men that helped them decide which ear to pierce. “Left is right, right is wrong.” The meaning behind this phrase is that men who pierce their left ears are heterosexual, and men who pierce their right ears are hom*osexual.

What does piercing sadness mean? ›

: having a strong affect on someone : felt in a very noticeable way. She felt a piercing sadness when she heard the news.

What is the piercing word in the Bible? ›

God's word is piercing

Then, in our text here, Hebrews 4:12: “The word of God is . . . sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

What is an Eskimo piercing? ›

An Eskimo or an Ashley piercing is a vertical lip piercing or a vertical labret which, unlike a normal labret, runs vertically through the lip. This piercing is executed like the centered labret, the difference being that the needle comes back out on the other side of the lower lip.

What do Native American piercings mean? ›

Most North American Tribes see the ring as a rite of passage after a successful return from a soul-searching journey in the wilderness. The septum piercing was used to signify their success and show their rite of passage into manhood.

What is the African tradition of piercing? ›

Piercing one's ear was done during transition rituals, especially during graduation from childhood to youth, and from youth to adulthood. Others, especially young warriors, pierced their ears further to adorn themselves with ornaments that were a sign of their bravery.

Does the Bible say piercings are a sin? ›

Within the Christian community, there are debates around interpreting passages of the Bible to either allow or forbid body piercing. Some Christians who are against body piercing use the “Book of Leviticus” to support the view that body piercing is a sin, arguing that you “should never mark your body”.

What does the Bible say about piercings and tattoos? ›

The Bible warns against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”

What culture is piercings? ›

Many Native American and Alaskan tribes practiced septum piercing. It was popular among the Aztecs, the Mayans and the tribes of New Guinea, who adorned their pierced noses with bones and feathers to symbolize wealth and (among men) virility.

What is a Marilyn piercing? ›

A Monroe piercing is a lip piercing placed off-center, above the upper lip on the left-hand side and is meant to resemble Marilyn Monroe's beauty spot, although Monroe's beauty spot was on her cheek, not her lip. The Madonna piercing is similar but worn on the right-hand side. Monroe piercing.

Why is piercing a coping mechanism? ›

This eases one's emotional distress too by working on the pain center in the brain that senses both emotional and physical pain.

What does psychology say about piercings? ›

In situations like this, adrenaline is released, and after the piercing, people may feel quite relaxed in contrast. For many, people want to push their bodies to the limits and attempt to develop a physical endurance, so the physical part of it can play a part for some people's reasoning for getting pierced.

Are piercings a form of therapy? ›

"Some people seek out a piercing procedure as a form of self-therapy, allowing them to release stress." Of course, not everyone feels this way about their piercings, and for many people, it's just a way to express themselves.

How many ear piercings is too much? ›

We recommend not getting more than four piercings in one session, especially if you're getting them on the same ear. Getting multiple piercings can also cause increased swelling during healing and can prolong healing time.

Is ear piercing a therapy? ›

While many are familiar with body acupuncture, auriculotherapy is a specific type of acupuncture that targets the outer parts of the ear. Considered to be a microcosm of the body according to Chinese medicine, the ears consist of over 200 acupressure points that can aid in balancing the mind and body.

Do ear piercings affect energy flow? ›

Many in-the-know acupuncture pros like Mona say trendy ear piercings could create a natural energetic draining point, but others argue that the body becomes desensitized to the shift in energy over time or that the body finds a way to flow around it.

Do any piercings have health benefits? ›

There are more than 200 acupoints in the ear, which explains why piercings in this area might have certain health benefits. One of the most common points is the daith (the inner cartilage fold in the ear), which is said to relieve the painful and debilitating symptoms of migraines.

Why do Latinos pierce their ears? ›

In Latin American countries, India, as well as some nations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it's considered a cultural or religious tradition to pierce a baby girl's ears, one that's harmless to the infant.

What culture is ear piercing? ›

Ear piercing is an ancient Indian practice, which is also known as Karna Vedha. It is one of the 16 sacraments, rituals and sacrifices done to mark the various stages of human life and to signify cultural heritage and upbringing.

Why do Hispanics pierce ears? ›

Ear piercing is ingrained in Spanish culture and a tradition when it comes to baby girls: in the olden days, nuns would pierce the ears of newborn girls before they even left the hospital; a traditional first gift from grandparents is a set of gold studs.

Why did God give us two ears? ›

The wisdom in Allah's choice of giving man two ears and just one mouth is for him (man) to talk less and listen more. Allah (SWT) prefers that we listen twice as much as we speak. If Allah (SWT) had wanted man to talk as much as he listens, He (SWT) would have given him two ears and two mouths.

Where in Bible does it say deaf ears? ›

Blind, Deaf, Dull-Hearted, and Unrepentant Israelites

' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears; and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed'” (Isa. 6:9–10).

What is the ear symbolic of? ›

It has long been considered the seat of memory, receptivity, inquisitiveness and awakening. Small ears represent shyness and low self-esteem, while large ears reflect an extroverted personality and adaptive ease. Seen as the portal for temptation or flattery (EVE).

Why did Jesus get pierced? ›

Death would then occur quicker. When they came to Jesus, He was already dead so they did not break His legs (John 19:33). Instead, the soldiers pierced His side (John 19:34) to assure that He was dead.

What Scripture stopped their ears? ›

Proverbs 21:13 King James Version (KJV)

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

What language did Jesus speak? ›

Aramaic is best known as the language Jesus spoke. It is a Semitic language originating in the middle Euphrates. In 800-600 BC it spread from there to Syria and Mesopotamia. The oldest preserved inscriptions are from this period and written in Old Aramaic.

Why do guys wear earrings in their left ear? ›

Earring left or right? Wearing earrings on the right side is said to indicate hom*osexuality, while wearing them on the left indicates heterosexuality. This can vary depending on the region or city. Ultimately, it's important to do what you like and what feels comfortable.

When did getting your ears pierced become a thing? ›

The modern emergence of ear piercing in the United States didn't really take hold until the 1950s. For the first half of the 20th century, earrings were considered uncouth by many, though the clip on variety was more acceptable.

What is the history of earrings? ›

Earrings have remained popular for more than 7000 years, and originated in ancient Asia. Egyptians would once wear earrings to signify the fact they were wealthy or of a higher class. However, in ancient Rome, earrings were worn only by slaves, and in ancient Greece by prostitutes.

What does it mean if a guy only wears one earring? ›

While a set of pearl studs is one of the most conservative pieces of jewellery a woman can sport, a single earring on a man‚ be it pearl, diamond or gold, is a sign of nonconformity.

Do straight guys have both ears pierced? ›

It is very common for men to have both ears pierced. Think of all of the guys out there with stretched ears, they usually have both pierced. Piercings ultimately are personal expression. If you feel comfortable piercing both ears, do it and love it!

What is the meaning of right ear piercing in men? ›

On the other hand, when a boy's ear is pierced, the right ear is pierced first. This is because these specific points coincide with the masculine and feminine halves of a person. It is believed that the right side of the body is the masculine side, while the left half is the feminine side.

What do piercings symbolize? ›

Some people pierce for religious or spiritual reasons, while others pierce for self-expression, for aesthetic value, for sexual pleasure, to conform to their culture or to rebel against it. Some forms of piercing remain controversial, particularly when applied to youth.

Which gender first wore earrings? ›

It was men who wore earrings first and not women (Oh!

What is the most painful piercing for a woman? ›

The cl*tor*s is also quite sensitive and contains thousands of nerve endings. Even if you're pretty tolerant to pain, a cl*tor*s piercing may hurt many times worse than any other piercing pain.

Did Marilyn Monroe have pierced ears? ›

perfectlymarilynmonroe. Did Marilyn have pierced ears? She didn't! This has been kind of a mystery, as so many of the earrings look like their pierced through, but here are some photographs showing no hole.

Did Native Americans have earrings? ›

Long before the Europeans settled in America and introduced the natives to silversmithing, the Native American tribes used natural resources such as bones, stones, wood, shells, and turquoise to craft earrings, necklaces, pins, bracelets, and other pieces.

Did ancient Chinese wear earrings? ›

Earrings in China originated in the Neolithic period; however, they were first used as decorations or amulets. A form of popular earring which pierced the earlobe was the er dang (Chinese: 耳珰) which became popular during the Warring States Period and the Qin dynasty.

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