In the Arab world, there is one particular pre-wedding event that lots of brides-to-be appearance forward to with severe anticipation, the notorious henna celebration. For a bit of enjoyable, we are taking a look at how a normal henna party is commemorated across the region.
Egypt
In Egypt, henna plays an unique role in the country as the body art custom itself comes from Ancient Egypt, a time when popular figures like Cleopatra used to adorn and decorate their bodies with henna. Today, it still plays a big function especially as a popular pre-wedding event. All throughout the country, a henna party is normally commemorated within the home of the bride-to-be throughout an intimate gathering amongst her closest female family and friends.
Along with that, henna gets applied to the guests and the bride-to-be herself. Including a distinct touch to the henna custom, in Egypt there is likewise the practice of having females position their feet in water filled with roses prior to getting embellished with henna.
Tunisia
Wedding events are taken very seriously in Tunisia as the nation is known to opt for a 7-day extravaganza with among the days reserved for the special henna party. During a typical Tunisian henna night, the bride-to-be to be usually goes for a big celebration, inviting buddies, family from both sides and even the neighborhood at large to commemorate. All the guests exist to want the bride-to-be luck because In Tunisia, henna is believed to bring good luck to the future couple.
In addition to the sophisticated henna designs that are drawn on the bride’s hands and feet in addition to some of the guests, there is likewise another unique routine practiced on this day in Tunisia. Guests would form lines and each one would deviate to position money in between the bride’s fingers or around her neck line. Sometimes, gold is even provided as a gesture of assistance. Beyond that, the bride herself dresses up in a manner that makes her the star of the night. Radiating luxury, the bride uses large streaming dress and embellishes herself with jewels and gold.
Morocco
Simply like Tunisia, Moroccans have their very own unique henna party traditions. The bride typically goes for a lavish celebration, making sure to go all out with the decoration opting for a Moroccan vibe.
Right after dinner, the couple would go through a fast outfit change for the henna event and after that the couple are carried to their seats while they are atop carriages raised by family members. While holding plates of cookies and sugary foods, the female guests normally dance around the couple as they get reached the henna event. When it pertains to the henna itself, the household matriarch is the one who uses it on the bride and groom’s palms as a way to safeguard them and offer them with health and wisdom.
Lebanon
Right before the wedding, there is a celebration as big and as unique as the ceremony itself. Bringing the entire room into joyful mood, dancers and drummers bring everyone onto their feet. Together with that, a typical custom is that women in the household frequently sing poetry to want the couple happiness and joy.
The highlight of this event is of the henna which gets applied on the pinkie fingers of the bride and groom. Adding a touch of custom to the henna party, guests likewise sometimes wrap the couple’s henna fingers with either gold or cash.
Saudi Arabia
Participating on the henna night festivities is Saudi Arabia who have an unique name for the pre-wedding celebration, “Laylat Al Ghumra”. On this day, the bride-to-be makes a grand entrance into the space. Loud music booms out as her mom, sis, and aunties dance around her. She later on gets covered in gold by her closest loved ones as a way to celebrate her upcoming special day.
When it comes to applying the henna, one of the bride’s loved ones is the one responsible for this job. She is the one who paints the bride’s hands with henna.
Palestine
To a lot of Palestinian women, the henna night is an extremely important celebration. That is why they usually go for a big party set in a big hall with visitors galore. What makes a Palestinian henna distinct is the standard clothing used by the bride.
Together with the unique gown is the practice of using henna on the future bride-to-be. For Palestinians, it is believed that henna represents people’s connection with the Earth in addition to wondrous celebrations. On the henna night, females would congregate and make the henna paste which is spread on a tray and embellished with flowers. The henna then gets scooped up and piped onto the bride-to-be’s hands.
All these distinct customs showcase the variety of Arab culture throughout the region and how a customized that is present in all Arab nations can be practiced and perceived so differently in each one.