Planet Mermaid Blog
Mermaid Tattoos for the seriously enthusiastic mermaid lovers amongst us
The tattoo industry is a booming market, last year the industry generated a staggering $1.6 billion in revenue according to the market research firm IBISWorld and there is no sign of a downturn. In fact over the next decade the industry is looking at a growth rate of 7.7%. Today it is estimated that over a third of 25-29 year-olds have at least one tattoo with woman comprising of half of this figure. This boom is a result of a rise in professionally trained artists doing a more competent job also contributed by the increase in celebrity and media exposure. Famous celebrities who openly show off their body art include Justin Bieber, Rhianna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to name just a few! This boom has also seen an increase in the amount of diverse tattoos available to choose from which can make your own choice a stressful process as you want to ensure the one you ultimately pick reflects your own personality. The choice of size, colour, meaning and placement are also other major factors to consider in this process. For those of us passionate about mermaids it is the perfect opportunity to bring the passion to life and show off your inner love. The mermaid symbol goes far beyond the Disney princess meaning some even say it can go as deep as the ocean itself. Other meanings associated with this symbol include danger, sensuality, temptation all of which are steeped in history. With our own bodies made primarily of water it can also been a symbolism of people’s desire to swim in the vast oceans and get lost under the waves into an underwater world full of mystery, charm and intrigue releasing their inner sensuality and feminine beauty whilst showing the world they are not shy to bare their bodies. Mermaids are the admired descendants of Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of both love and beauty which is also an added attraction for choosing a mermaid inspired tattoo. There are many different mermaid inspired design ideas out there to choose from. They vary from the perceived pretty mermaid with long flowing hair and a beautiful mermaid tail sitting on a rock with the waves lashing around her to the portrayed Disney character of Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Whatever your design you will be sure it reflects your nature and individuality. Beautiful examples of mermaid tattoos can be seen below: Mermaid Tail Tattoo Amazed by this wonder of symbolism associated with a mermaid tattoo…go on celebrate and embrace your inner and outer beauty. Have you already taken that step and got a mermaid tattoo? Please share your artwork with us we would love to see them and share with fellow mermaid lovers! @PlanetMermaid #planetmermaidKeep mermaiding Check our mermaid swimming videos to get inspired!
World Book Day Mermaid Style
World Book Day is nearly amongst us again but what is it all excitement about? World Book Day is a registered charity whose prime mission is to give every child and young person a book of their own. It is now in its 22nd year where its biggest aim is to encourage children to enjoy reading and explore the absolute pleasure books bring. It is also an opportunity to celebrate all those amazing authors and illustrators who through their own gift to write bring books to life and make reading an inspiring and joyous experience. This day has grown from strength to strength and is now celebrated in over 100 countries all over the world. The fun doesn’t just stop at reading children are encouraged to dress up in as their favourite character and go to school armed with their favourite book to read to their class friends. For those fascinated about mermaids this is the perfect opportunity to bring the passion to life and showcase their finest homemade creations. There are lots of mermaid inspired children’s books out there to choose from catering for all ages. The hardest decision is choosing which one to pick! Could the following be amongst your collection? “Can you catch a Mermaid?” (by Jane Ray) “The Singing Mermaid” (by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks) “The Unicorn Prince” (by Saviour Pirotta) “Mermaid School” (by Joanne Stewart Wetzel) “The Mermaid and the Shoe” (by K.G. Campbell) “Sea Witch” (by Sarah Henning)Whether you are donning a truly homemade outfit or utilising one of your existing mermaid tails with mermaid top, mermaid bikini or mermaid leggings, below are some fantastic mermaid inspired creations to get your juices flowing. It’s not just about the girls boys can have just as much fun dressing up as sharks choosing to style their looks from books such as.. “Catch a Shark!” (by Bonnie Worth) “Smiley Shark and the Great Big Hiccup” (by Ruth Galloway) “Clark the Shark” (by Bruce Hale and Guy Francis) “The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark” (by Will Grace) “Big Bad Shark” (by Will Grace) “Baby Shark” (by John John Bajet) “Shark School” (by Davy Ocean and Aaron Blecha) Fantastic Shark inspired creations can include looks based on the following great examples: Even teachers like to go for the mermaid inspired look too! Hope we have given you lots of ideas to get those juices flowing…..watch out World Book Day our mermaids and sharks are coming to get you! Please send us your ideas through our social media platforms, we would love to see them and share with fellow mermaid lovers! @PlanetMermaid #planetmermaidVisit www.planetmermaid.com to view our latest in amazing mermaid and shark tails for kids and adults alike! Keep mermaiding and sharking
Mermaid Inspired Wedding Dresses
It is a fact that at least once in your life you dream of being a princess bride and walking down the aisle with your Prince Charming. It is reported that 25% of couples have some sort of customised theme to their wedding and so it is no shock that incorporating their passion into their dream day is a common event. Whilst some wedding traditions such as the first dance and the exchanging of rings are here to stay the desire to personalise things is becoming more common. If your happiest place is surrounded by Disney magic then it would make sense to incorporate these components into your own wedding day. Disney is the heart of romance and anything fairy-tale and with no other day more perfect than your own wedding day why not indulge in your passion. For those mermaid lovers saying “I do” by the sea or having a mermaid inspired wedding it is a fairytale come true… a true Princess Ariel marrying her Prince Eric moment! The next most important part to planning a Disney themed wedding is finding the perfect dress. Ariel, the Disney princess of the sea, has a very distinctive style, long and elegant just like a mermaid tail. Ariel is known as being unafraid of making a statement which gives the bride the perfect excuse to make a statement in her own dress. A typical mermaid style wedding dress features a fitted body which then opens out below the knee and to reveal a stylish mermaid tail look. Below are a few examples of mermaid inspired wedding dresses ranging from contemporary to outright mermaidtastic designs.It does not stop at the wedding dress, there are so many ideas out there to complete your mermaid inspired wedding day. Below are just a short selection of creations to get your mermaid juices flowing. Getting ready.. Holding the bouquet.. Meeting you prince Eric at the alter..The moment you say “I do” The reception… Finally the wedding cake… How would you plan your dream mermaid inspired wedding? Please send us your ideas through our social media platforms, we would love to see them and share with fellow mermaid lovers! @PlanetMermaid #planetmermaid Keep mermaiding Visit www.planetmermaid.com to view our latest in amazing mermaid tails for kids and adults alike!
Mermen – A Forgotten Legend
When one hears the word “mermaid” you automatically think of beautiful females swimming gracefully amongst the waves with long flowing hair wearing gorgeous mermaid tails and mermaid tops. Sometimes we forget that in addition to the romantic mermaid legends there are just as many fables about mermen. Different stories you read contain contradictive information about their demeanour. Some have them to be warm-hearted whilst others claim they were unattractive and mean spirited. It was in Western Europe where the legend of the merman was strong in decades gone. Ireland folk called merpeople “merrows” who were thought to be both good and bad depending upon the thoughts of the tales authors. Repeated stories throughout the Dark Ages described the male merrows as being hideous horrible creatures whilst the female merrows were kind and attractive. Legends also have mermen to be ancient gods. A famous god known to all mermaid lovers from the book “The Little Mermaid” was the father of Ariel, King Triton. Triton was an ancient Greek god of the sea and he was the son of gods Poseidon and Amphitrite. He was depicted as half-man-half-fish with long hair and acknowledged to have caused great storms of the sea. Another god of the sea and fellow merman was “Glaucus”. Legend has it that he ate a magical herb that led him into the transformation to a sea god. He was said to be the confidant of the sea and guardian of sailors. Mermen are not just a thing of the past there has been a big increase in the number of men who have recently started dressing up as mermen. Some see it as a way of expressing their love for the sea and others have made it their profession working as resort entertainers or models, all of whom have large social media followings. There are many exclusively designed products on the market including mermaid tails and other merchandise for mermen or merboys. One company in particular Planet Mermaid has a dedicated line for merboys called Planet Shark. This collection sees boy’s mermaid tails, monofins, t-shirts and shark leggings designed exclusively for merboys.Now the boys can chase the mermaids as a shark complete with a shark fin and cool tail!! Watch out mermaids the merboys are coming to get you! Visit www.planetmermaid.com to view our latest in amazing mermaid and shark tails for kids and adults alike! Keep mermaiding and sharking
Bringing your mermaid dreams to life!
The mermaid phenomenon has brought about a craze for everything mermaid, whether you are going to a fancy dress party or dressing up for Halloween, you can transform your passion into reality and have any excuse to indulge in your passion. The custom of dressing up has been around for hundreds of years; in fact, the first recording was in 1911 when people dressed up for Halloween in North America. Since then this fun past-time has just kept growing and now you can dress up for virtually any occasion. The fun part of dressing up as a mermaid is that you can tailor it for any occasion. There are so many party ideas out there now to give you inspiration to become your ultimate mermaid fantasy. Below are a few of our personal favourites: We just love that fact that everyone can get involved - from men, women, boys and girls, it is not gender specific. The effort that goes into the make-up is truly staggering; people really bring their fantasies to life, it is a true art form. For those who want to go that extra mile and swim as a mermaid, there are plenty of mermaid tails for adults and kids to choose from. To finish the look you can also accompany your tail with a mermaid top or mermaid bikini, mermaid leggings, monofin, mermaid accessories including scrunchies, mermaid T-shirts and swim bags. The best selection can be found below: Go on, let your imagination shine through and please send us your pictures through our social media – we’d love to see them and share with fellow mermaid lovers. Keep mermaiding! Visit our website to view our latest in amazing mermaid tails for kids and adults alike.
Want ideas for a more exciting way to exercise.....
When it comes to exercising, we’ve always opted for the traditional but, one could argue, slightly boring option of running, whether that be on the road, in the park or even on the treadmill. We’ve never given anything else much thought…well until now! Who’d have known there were so many different and exciting alternatives to keeping fit? Particularly mermaid swimming. Yes, you did hear that right. You can relive your childhood fantasies whilst getting fit at the same time! It has been proven that if you attend classes on a regular basis, and healthy eating is implemented, your body will start to become healthier and stronger. Not only that, but your posture will also change due to the body positioning in the pool and core work. Your overall cardio will also improve over the weeks and you’ll notice a change in your posterior muscles….always a bonus in our book. @kimkardashian, eat your heart out! ‘How does it work?’ I hear you ask. Well, the idea is that the movements are slow and graceful, making the swimming look effortless. The joined legs covered with the tail give the effect of no legs and, as the fin is covered and your feet are hidden, it gives the tail effect. This then encourages the swimmer to use a flutter kick known as a butterfly leg kick. The motion of the butterfly kick is a very different process once you’re a mermaid. The costume gives you full support to complete the swimming style and the Magic Fin enables a greater speed - together, they are the essence of mermaiding. Swimming with a Magic Fin helps with your overall body position and improves your technique in the water by creating extra buoyancy as you swim. Fin swimming is a new way of learning swimming techniques and co-ordination while improving your overall fitness. This excellent idea is the brainchild of Mermaid Wave Swim School who hold mermaid classes all around the country, run by experience mermaid swim instructors. All the kit is provided so no added expense is needed - all you need to do is turn up, have fun and transform into a mermaid. Given you an appetite to find out more? With centres all around the UK there is no excuse not to check us out. Vvisit https://www.planetmermaid.com/pages/mermaid-swimming-school or call us on 01234 352488. Remember, it’s not just for adults, children can have mermaid fun too. To find out more please visit www.mermaidwave.com See you in the pool!
Are Mermaids Real?
New year… new thought and one which I am sure you are all wondering.“Are mermaids real?” “Do they actually exist?”This question has been asked a million times over, have there been real sightings or are we letting our imagination get the better of us and want to truly believe in this magical phenomenon? Mythology has claimed that mermaids or mermaid like creatures have been on our planet for thousands of years, some even claim to have originated as yearly as 1000 B.C. There are countless stories that tell of “real life” encounters. Captain John Smith's real mermaid One of those stories being from a sea captain “Captain John Smith” who described how he saw a mermaid swimming with such grace, her eyes were large and she had a finely shaped short nose and well-formed ears that he said were rather too long! Her hair was long and green which he went on to state “imparted to her an original character that was by no means unattractive”. In fact Smith fell for the mermaid’s beauty and started to fall in love with her until he had the realisation that she was a fish from the waist down. Infamous Christopher Columbus real mermaid story Another encounter, and probably one of the most famous, came from Christopher Columbus. Columbus had claimed he had spotted mermaids near Haiti in 1493 which he went on to describe them as being “not as pretty as they were depicted, for somehow in their face they look like men” a quote taken from the American Museum of Natural History. Modern mermaids - New Zealand More recently sightings have been seen around the world, in 2012 workers were reported to have been scared off a dam they were working on by an irate mermaid and then more recently in 2014 fishermen claimed to have found remains of a mermaid in the South Island of New Zealand. Fiji / Feejee mermaid This "real" mermaid is probably one of the most famous ones due to this mermaid remains having a large number of replicas and therefore photo proofs!Fishermen in certain areas were known for manufacturing mermaids by stitching bodies of little mammals, such as apes onto the fish bodies to create the mermaid looking creatures. They didn't look like beautiful charming women at all.Fiji mermaid, also known as Barnum's mermaid was bought by the American captain Samuel Barrett Edes from Japanese sailors in 1822. The mermaid remains changed a few owners and ended up sold to the famous showman Phineas Barnum who was known for his passion to hoaxes and curiosities. Barnum invited a naturalist to examine the mermaid and even though he wasn't convinced it was real, he couldn't prove it is was a man-made creation as he couldn't understand how it was manufactured.The Fiji mermaid was displayed in numerous places including the American Museum of Natural History. It has been lost during the multiple fires in the 1860th. In conclusion there is no real scientific evidence of their actual existence but none either to conclude that they are just a fantasy. We love the idea of their existence and relish in their fantasy. We can now even become mermaids ourselves and swim freely in the sea or pool in our own mermaid tails, mermaid tops, mermaid leggings, monofins and amazing mermaid accessories. Whether we are an adult or a child there are mermaid tails out there for all to experience this amazing phenomenon. Visit our shop to view our latest in amazing mermaid tails for kids and adults alike! Keep mermaiding
Why is there a big mermaid phenomenon?
If you have a little person like me who is obsessed with anything mermaid related do you ever stop to wonder how it all came about? It fascinates me that mermaids have occupied our imagination for thousands of years, originating in ancient Assyria with the legend of goddess Atargatis, whose worship spread to Greece and Rome and Atargatis the goddess of fertility who is associated with a fish-bodied goddess at Ascalon. It is even thought that worship of Atargatis and Ascalon eventually merged into one, leading to the description of one ‘mermaid-goddess’ It just blows my mind that mermaids are swamped in history and even to this day are such a big part of our lives through one way or another. Famous films, both for adults and children alike, are still a big hit and are watched time and time again never growing old. New and exciting merchandise is coming out daily including tails you can actually swim in and feel like a real mermaid and to my utter delight they are not just for the little ones! www.planetmermaid.com Other great examples I have found are.. Keyrings www.amazon.co.uk Cushions www.amazon.co.uk Mermaid Hangers www.planetmermaid.com Make up brushes…one for the older clientele! www.planetmermaid.com Beach Towels www.etsy.com Bath Bombs www.etsy.com and finally one of my favorites which I think just sums being a mermaid lover Bracelets www.etsy.com Personally I think its success comes down to the fact that there is no age limit associated with enjoying anything mermaid related, no matter whether you are big or small. Mermaiding in any form is just simply magical. Will this phenomenon end….I very much doubt it! Keep mermaiding!
Need Party Inspiration Ideas? Give Mermaid Wave Swim parties a go!
If you’re a parent and dread that time of year when you need to come up with new and exciting party ideas for your little one, we have the answer – Mermaid Wave Swim School parties. Mermaid Wave Swim School has different packages available depending upon your child’s age and interest. Whichever package you choose, your little ones will enjoy every second, guaranteed. The party is run by one of our many qualified instructors, who will show your mermaids and sharks how to swim in their tails, while taking them on a magical storytelling adventure. At the end of the pool session all children then receive a certificate, followed by a group photo sent via email. Mermaid Wave takes all your worries out of child entertainment, so you just need to concentrate on feeding your hungry mermaids or sharks at the end of their session. Need some inspiration? Don’t spend hours on the internet, just try out our handpicked options. Mermaid or shark Sandwiches The pièce de résistance….the CAKE So many to choose from…. Or even go mer-tastic with an amazing unicorn mermaid cake - Your daughters would love this! Then to end the party of all parties, go out with a bang and some amazing party bag ideas. Given you an appetite to find out more? With centres all around the UK, there's no excuse not to check us out. Visit our swim school page or call us on 01234 352488. Remember, it’s not just for children - adults can have mermaid fun too. To find out more, please visit www.mermaidwave.com
