PIERCING.1 - A toast to the new year

A bump into the new year - regain your strength with tattoos and piercings

After a Christmas full of twinkling lights, festive songs and family gatherings, here I am: New Year, a fresh breeze and me in front of the piercing studio of my choice. The question hangs in the air like the sparkle of tinsel: will I decorate my body just like my Christmas tree?

I remember the tree. It seemed to be delighted when I hung the baubles and stars on its branches. I thought: "Why not give me a little sparkle too?" And so here I am, standing in front of a temple to the art of needling and piercing, full of new resolutions and new courage to finally get pierced.

I had danced the night away on New Year's Eve. The intimate encounter with a dance partner who had lots of piercings in and on her body finally gave me a feeling of freedom again. After that unspeakable news disaster last year.

It wasn't just the alcohol that intoxicated me and my dance partner, but the metal art that adorned her skin. We danced, laughed and found freedom in the small, shimmering prohibitions on her skin.

The next morning, when the hangover had turned my head into a drum, the memory of that night lingered - like the shiny piercing in her mouth and elsewhere. It was more than just body jewelry; it was a promise that we could lose ourselves in the little rebellions and have the time of our lives.

And now it's up to me to take the plunge into the world of body art. That's why I'm here - just walk through the door and take up the offer:

"Tattoo Anansi. Now you can get your piercings as well as tattoos with us. DAILY."

A new tattoo is always an adventure, but a new piercing, especially as it's the first one, is like trying to hang another light bulb on the already decorated tree on Christmas morning. But well, who says Christmas only comes once a year?

But this time I don't just want pictures under my skin, I want metal through my skin.

In ancient Egypt, I thought, it would have been like this: Golden needles piercing through royal noses like hieroglyphics chiseled into the stone. Each pharaoh wanted to emphasize his uniqueness - one with a nose ring, the other with an eyebrow piercing, perhaps even with a royal navel ring.

The Egyptians believed in the power of symbols, and what could be more symbolic than a shiny piece of metal sticking out of a pharaoh's nose? It was like a royal flashing light in the middle of the desert night.

The ladies of the court would have been delighted: "Oh, Pharaoh, your nose ring is as powerful as the sun god Ra!" they whispered, while the Pharaoh strode confidently through the palace, equipped with all the means at his disposal. That would be something for me too. I could do with some self-confidence in the world of advances and flirty tinderboxes.

When the pharaoh spoke, the piercings clinked like royal fanfares. Ancient Egypt thus became the Mecca of the pharaoh piercing trend. The pyramids may be imposing, but the pharaohs' nose rings were the real marvel. Archaeologists still find remains of these royal needles today and wonder whether the Egyptian gods themselves might have had a piercing studio.

And then I ponder further: Would the ancient Greeks embellish their Olympic gods with piercings? Instead of lightning bolts in Zeus' hand, perhaps lightning piercings? Aphrodite, the goddess of love, could shine with a heart through her nose. That would certainly take the magic of love to a whole new level.

But back to the present, I'm still standing outside the piercing studio wondering if a belly button piercing could increase my potency. I mean, if it worked for the pharaohs, why not for me? Maybe my belly button will become the center of new powers, a miniature sun god to light up my romantic adventures.

In any case, I would be willing to follow the trend of the ancient Egyptians and start my year with a royal glow. The piercing studio is my modern temple of self-discovery, and the needles are my tools to give my body that certain something.

These small works of body art are not only decorative, but also seductive. They are like secret keys to another dimension of sensuality. The touch of a piercing can give you goosebumps, a sweet temptation that reminds us that life is not just about the news, but also about secret and unique pleasures. So, my hot friends, don't just wear your piercings on your skin, wear them with a damn attitude.

Happy New Year, and may the brilliance of piercings light up your year! In a world full of needles and metal, I'm ready to set a royal twinkle of my own.

Piercings have a long and varied history that encompasses cultural, spiritual and aesthetic aspects

Early history: Piercings are not a modern phenomenon. They were already practiced in prehistoric times for various reasons. In many ancient cultures, piercings were worn for spiritual, ritual or cultural reasons. For example, some North American Indians wore nose piercings to symbolize spiritual powers.

Ancient cultures: In ancient times, piercings were common in various civilizations such as the Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. Here they often served as a status symbol or were worn in connection with religious rites.

Asia: In Asian cultures, especially in India, piercing was practiced as part of Hindu traditions. Nose piercings often had religious significance here and were worn by women as a sign of marriage.

Oceanic cultures: In many oceanic cultures, such as the Maori in New Zealand, piercings were used as a sign of belonging to a certain group or as an expression of strength and bravery.

Middle Ages and Renaissance: In the Middle Ages, piercings were often worn by noblemen in Europe. Piercings experienced a revival during the Renaissance, but became less popular in the Western world in the 19th century.

Revival in modern times: In the 1970s, piercings experienced a revival in the western world, particularly through the punk and subculture. In the following decades, a wide range of piercing styles and trends developed.

Today: Piercings are widespread and accepted. They are often used for self-expression, aesthetics or fashion. Piercings have also found applications in the medical world, for example in acupuncture.

These points provide an overview of the diverse history of piercings.

TEXT: Julian Bachmann

Graphic: Jonas Bachmann