Express yourself today, by getting a body piercing somewhere…. anywhere. Today is a great day to do so, as it is International Body Piercing Day. Will this June 28 holiday be the first time you got one? Or, do you already have a number of them, and plan to add a new one? Just prepare for a long line. On this holiday body piercing studios are very busy.

Nowadays, body piercings are most often done as a form of self-expression. Along with tattoos, they set us apart, and to some degree define who we are. Body piercing has been around since ancient times. It was practiced in many cultures around the world. Most notably, African and Native American tribes practiced body piercing, often for tribal rituals, among other reasons. Even in ancient times, they were made on almost any part of the human body.

Modern body piercing in the U.S. began to gain in popularity in the mid to late 1970s. Its popularity and acceptance continue to grow around the world. Along with the growth in popularity, is a marked increase in extreme piercings, with some individuals having dozens upon dozens of them.

Jim Ward of California is the “granddaddy of modern body piercing”. He opened the first body piercing studio in California in 1978. Among his many achievements, were establishing methods of piercing, promoting body piercing education, and setting safety standards. Are you ready to participate in this holiday? Go out to a body piercing studio, and get a part of your body … any part…pierced!

Did You Know? Body piercing is a form of art.