Abby: Continuing the Matriarchy

Abby, 21

Many people choose symbols to represent their family, but each one holds a different sentiment. This is the story of matriarchy and inheritance behind Abby’s peony and olive branch tattoo.

“In my family on my mom’s side, we have had these peony plants that my great grandmother planted at our family home in Hampden and the house has been in our family since 1910 when my family came from Ireland and built it before Baltimore was even a happening place. We’ve had these bushes at the house for ages and then when my great grandmother died she gave them to my aunts and my mom as an inheritance. The house stays with the family forever but the flowers were distributed throughout a lot of the women in my family, it’s a very matriarchal family for sure.”

What is so beautiful about this tattoo by Leroy at Ghost Town Tattoo in Ellicott City is that it is not only a symbol of Abby's family, but it continues the tradition of women with peonies in her family.

“My mom has some, my late aunt had some, everyone in my family has a peony and so it symbolizes my family. I just remember growing up and seeing her peonies in our back yard and going out and you could see all the ants crawling on them because they need ants to help them bloom."

"It’s pretty cool and I love it and when I look at it, it means my family is on me. This is my favorite tattoo."