Henna

My cousin is getting married next week and our tradition is to have a henna party (NOT to be confused with a hen party!). For this, all the woman meet, we eat, talk and get henna on our hands. The bride to be, gets henna all over her hands the night before the actual wedding. 

As it's a tradition, I wondered whether there was some type of symbol that henna represented as it is always present for weddings and eid. I asked around and this was my interpretation of this art. 

Years ago, henna was used as a way for females to decorate themselves and look attractive. As the henna dyes the hands in many different beautiful patterns it was seen as a way to express femininity. Now we have nail polish and other ways to adorn our hands and feet but henna is still used for special occasions. 

The place the henna goes is also said to represent specific meanings, similar to how a ring placed on a persons left ring finger represents engagement or marriage. If henna is on the palm it shows openness and offering (for the bride offering herself to a male). Henna on the back of the hand represents protection. Henna on the left hand represents female and on the right hand it represents male (so putting it on both symbolises a pairing or joining of two souls). And on the feet it represents a human and earth meeting, seen as a holy junction. 

As I see henna as an expression of artistic creativity, I was excited to get it on both my hands.

My turn!

I also asked for an elephant on my wrist for luck!

I decided to get both hands done, so they look more even. The girl said that to make the colour darker you can mix juice from a lemon with sugar, put it in the microwave for a bit, dip cotton wool in the mixture and put it on the henna over night. I did this and looked like I'd injured myself!! 

Here (above photo) they are before I went to bed...

And in the morning after I washed the top layer off. 

I love henna and will defiantly be buying some and trying it myself!