The tattoo (Haven)

The tattoo is a recurring symbol in the supernatural TV series Haven.

The tattoo consists of a round maze with a tiny human figure at each compass point. It can be seen during the opening credits sequence. The fleeting glimpse of the symbol on a stone during the sequence suggests that there is some ritual associated with it, for a figure of a man moves a container filled with a strange concoction towards the stone. There is a feather used as part of the ritual, perhaps indicating a native American involvement. Haven's original name is Tuwiuwok, a Mi'kmaq name we are told meaning "Haven for God's Orphans". (Welcome to Haven) The tattoo is first seen on the forearm of Phil Reiser, a victim of the Troubles.(Ball and Chain)

It is revealed in Over My Head that this tattoo is the sign of a group called "The Guard." Every person who gets the tattoo is himself (or herself) Troubled. The purpose of the group is to protect the Troubled.

Duke and the tattoo

When she was young, Vanessa Stanley, a person Troubled with seeing what will kill a person, touched the Colorado Kid and she saw an arm with the maze tattoo coming towards him. She describes the circumstances of Duke Crocker's death in the same manner. This makes Duke very interested in the tattoo. Nathan, who investigated the dead man with the tattoo, draws it for Duke. (The Hand You're Dealt)

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands, and display teams on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. The event takes place annually throughout August as part of the wider Edinburgh Festival (a collective name for many independent festivals and events held in Edinburgh during August).

History and etymology

The British adopted the practice and it became a signal to tavern owners each night, played by a regiment's Corps of Drums or Pipes and Drums, to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour. With the establishment of modern barracks and full Military bands later in the 18th century, the term Tattoo was used to describe the last duty call of the day, as well as a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by Military musicians.

The first Tattoo in Edinburgh was entitled "Something About a Soldier" and took place at the Ross Bandstand at Princes Street Gardens in 1949. The first official Edinburgh Military Tattoo began in 1950 with just eight items in the programme. It drew some 6,000 spectators seated in simple bench and scaffold structures around the north, south, and east sides of the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. In 1952, the capacity of the stands was increased to accommodate a nightly audience of 7,700, allowing 160,000 to watch live performances each year.