Military tattoo


A military tattoo is a performance of music or display of armed forces in general. The term comes from the early 17th-century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe, a signal sounded by drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeepers near military garrisons to stop serving beer and for soldiers to return to their barracks, and is unrelated to the ink tattoo that was borrowed from Tahitian.
The tattoo was originally a form of military music but the practice has evolved into more elaborate shows involving theatrics and musical performances. It is also used to designate military exhibitions such as the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Etymology

The term dates from around 1600 during the Thirty Years' War in the Low Countries. The Dutch fortresses were garrisoned with mercenary troops who had been under federal command since 1594. The Dutch States Army had become a federal army, consisting mostly of Protestant German, Scottish, English and Swiss mercenaries, but commanded by a Dutch officer corps. Drummers from the garrison were sent out into the towns at 21:30 hrs each evening to inform the soldiers that it was time to return to barracks and the innkeepers that no more beer was to be served, that the taps were to be closed. The drummers continued to play until the curfew at 22:00 hrs. Tattoo, earlier spelled tap-too then taptoo, are alterations of the Dutch words tap toe, which have the same meaning. Taptoo was the earlier alteration of the phrase and was used in George Washington's papers in which he said: "In future the Reveille will beat at day-break; the troop at 8 in the morning; the retreat at sunset and taptoo at nine o'clock in the evening."
Over the years the process became more of a show and often included the playing of the first post at 21:30 hrs and the last post at 22:00. Bands and displays were included and shows were often conducted by floodlight or searchlight. Tattoos were commonplace in the late 19th century, with most military and garrison towns putting on some kind of show or entertainment during the summer months. Between the First World War and the Second World War elaborate military tattoos were held in many towns and cities, with the largest held in Aldershot in the United Kingdom.

Notable examples

Europe

North America

Asia

  • Since 1963 the Japan Self-Defense Forces Marching Festival has been the country's military tattoo, featuring guest bands from the Asia–Pacific region and the bands of the service branches of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, plus its traditional drum teams. Held in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo every November since its first edition, it is also Asia's oldest.
  • The International Military Heritage Festival, organized by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, is the national military tattoo of South Korea. Held every April in Seoul, it consists of performances from the military bands and drill teams of the ROKAF.
  • Hong Kong held international military tattoo events both in 2012 and 2017, on the occasion of the 15th and the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to The People's Republic of China. The Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China|Military Band of the People's Liberation Army] of China and the Hong Kong Police Band had essential roles to play. The performances also included military bands from Mongolia, The Netherlands, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • Military tattoo-style events have been held in Indonesia in the context of major city and municipal district anniversaries in the form of the visits by the corps of drums and drum and bugle corps of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Indonesian National Police, which are invited to march past and perform on local anniversaries and holidays. Often the ones frequently present in these tattoo-style events are the corps of drums of the military and police academies and the drum and bugle corps from the two military high schools in Magelang and Bandung, their appearances being a hit among the crowds attending these civic-military parades. A recent addition to these is the presence of the Corps of Drums of the Indonesian Army Officer Candidate School, also from Bandung. These events are also held within the academies' respective campuses during change of command, recognition and graduation parades as well as during their open house days, as well as during open days in military installations and anniversaries of the armed forces and police.
  • Malaysia has held special military tattoos at the Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur as part of Visit Malaysia Year and in important anniversary years of national independence.
  • In Kazakhstan, the most notable military tattoo is the Eskeri Kernei International Festival held on Capital City Day.

Africa

  • At the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Rhodesian Light Infantry on 30 January 1971, a special commemorative military tattoo at Glamis Stadium in Salisbury was held. The tattoo, which was the first held by a single military unit in Rhodesia, saw the 1st Battalion spend three weeks rehearsing in terms of drilling, physical training and unarmed combat. a staged assault on a guerrilla camp was held by 2 Commando using blank ammunition and dummy mortars. The tattoo culminated with a sky-dive by three members of the Battalion Parachute Club. A retreat ceremony was held after as well as a final march-past by all participants.
  • During the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Revolution celebrations in September 2009, a military tattoo was held at Green Square in Tripoli. Titled the World Military Music Festival, it was presided over by Mutassim Gaddafi and featured units from countries such as Russia, Algeria and Ethiopia.
  • In 2018, the South African Tattoo was revived. The performance included members of the South African National Defence Force performing military drills and a mock battle, as well as the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, a collection of both local and international dancing groups and a combined performance of many of the South African Highlander Bagpipe groups.