Samoan Tattoos

Samoan Legend About Tattoos
The legend says that one day two Samoan twin girls from Manu'a traveled to Fiji to learn the art of tattooing. Upon their return to Samoa one of the girls sang a song with the words: When a male grows up, tattoo him. When a woman grows up, let her bear children. Although women can also get tattoos that are less elaborate, it became custom for the male to undergo the intensive tattoo operation. The operation is a long process that can take up to 2 - 3 months to complete. It is said to help men to appreciate the labor pains involved with childbirth.

source: http://www.samoancenter.org/pages/cu_faasamoa.html