When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few.

“Tattoo” is played in the evening signaling that all light in squad rooms should be extinguished and that all loud talking and other disturbances be discontinued within 15 minutes, at which time “Taps” should follow.  “Taps” signals “lights out” at the end of a military day, and during patriotic memorial ceremonies and military funerals.  We’ve all heard these bugle calls but why these songs at these times?

The original meaning of military tattoo (not to be confused with the body art created by pushing ink under the skin) was a drum performance.  The practice dates from around 1600 during the Thirty Years’ War in the Low Countries (Belgium and the Netherlands).  Drummers from the garrison were sent out into the towns at 21:30 hrs (9:30PM) each evening to inform the soldiers that it was time to return to barracks. The process was known as doe den tap toe (Dutch for “turn off the tap“).  Innkeepers were officially notified to top serving alcohol beer and send the soldiers home for the night. The drummers continued to play until the curfew at 22:00 (10:00PM). By the 19th Century, tattoo evolved into more of a show with horns, bagpipes and drums.  These shows would begin with the playing of inspection call at 21:30 and end with taps at 22:00. After the Second World War elaborate tattoos were held in many towns to celebrate the military including one at the annual Edinburgh Festival, the Quebec City Military Tattoo, the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, Virginia, and by the United States Air Force for various events and celebrations, like base openings and closures. 

So, if you want the real effect of Tattoo at your tavern reenactment, consider replacing it with “Closing Time” by Semisonic.

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