I have become familiar with the scene of going to Venice Beach or other beach-like places in California and there are always multiple henna stations. These henna stations have endless options for you to choose from. In our society it is seen as a fun, temporary tattoo that lasts for awhile and reminds of us of a fun day we had with friends or family.
This led me to think about what henna really means to those who use it in a cultural context. Henna, I think, might be the oldest form of cultural modification among women since it is an art that has been practiced for as long as 9,000 years (Fotopoulou 1). Some of the earliest civilizations used henna to symbolize fertility and “the earliest civilizations with artifacts showing hennaed hands on fertility goddesses are the Ugartics, Minians, Mycenanaeans, Ancient Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, and Egyptians” ( Fotopoulou 1). Also, henna was used as a cosmetic by Cleopatra (Newton 1). The application of henna is known as mehndi. “Traditionally, Mehndi is practiced exclusively by women, and taught in the oral tradition, with recipes and patterns passed from one generation to the next” (Newton1). According to the “Art of Mehndi”, “henna is a small shrub called hawsonia inermis inermis, and is also known as Henne, Al-Khanna, Al-henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Mendee, Egyptian Priver, and Smooth Lawsonia. Henna grows in hot climates and is found in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Persia, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and other North African, Asian and Middle Eastern Countries (1). Depending on the location, the designs for mehndi change. For example, “Arabic (Middle –Eastern) mehndi features large, floral patterns on hands and feet, while Indian (Asian) mehndi uses fine line, lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; African mehndi art is large and bold with geometrically patterned angles. African mehndi patterns usually use black henna while Asia and Middle-Eastern mehndi is often reddish brown” (Fotopoulou 1). Even though henna is used in multiple cultures, many associate it with the Hindu marriage ceremony. The bride has a Mehndi party which is a type of rites of passage ceremony into womanhood. Mehndi becomes part of a girl’s vocabulary for feminine expression (Newton 1). In addition, it is said that “when a bride has mehndi done for her wedding, the darker the design, the more her mother-in-law loves her. A good deeply colored design is a sign of good luck for the marital couple. It is common for the names of the bride and groom to be hidden in the mehndi design; and the wedding night cannot commence until the groom has found the names. A bride is not expected to perform any house work until her wedding mehndi has faded” (Fotopoulou 1). When her henna has faded, her initiation into womanhood is complete and she can start fulfilling her duties as a woman. Also, in having the groom find the hidden names, it is a way for the bride and groom to get to know each other because of the intimacy of the act. Also, in India, henna is included in the “Kama Sutra as one of the sixty-four acts for women” (Newton 1). In comparison, henna in Morocco is used to guard against misfortune and it is used for its magical powers (Newton1). Also, in Morocco, pregnant woman who are in their seventh month will seek out henna practitioners called hannayas to paint certain symbols on their ankles, which will be encircled with a corresponding amulet (Newton1). This is supposed to protect the mother and child when she goes into labor. Overall, henna is a modification of the skin that culturally has magical powers for women. It serves as a rite of passage into womanhood as well as protecting them through birth. Henna is a woman’s celebration of beauty and recognition of a woman’s powers. Ultimately, it seems that the art of mehndi is a form of body modification that is truly seen as something positive in every aspect. It is art, a sign of love, a passage into womanhood, protection, and is believed by some to have magical powers.
Works Cited
Fotopoulou, Sophia. “The Art of Mehndi” Newsfinder
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/the_art_of_mehndi/
Newton, Patti. “Mystical Henna: The Sacred Art of Mehndi”.
http://planetvermont.com/pvq/v8n2/henna.html
This led me to think about what henna really means to those who use it in a cultural context. Henna, I think, might be the oldest form of cultural modification among women since it is an art that has been practiced for as long as 9,000 years (Fotopoulou 1). Some of the earliest civilizations used henna to symbolize fertility and “the earliest civilizations with artifacts showing hennaed hands on fertility goddesses are the Ugartics, Minians, Mycenanaeans, Ancient Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, and Egyptians” ( Fotopoulou 1). Also, henna was used as a cosmetic by Cleopatra (Newton 1). The application of henna is known as mehndi. “Traditionally, Mehndi is practiced exclusively by women, and taught in the oral tradition, with recipes and patterns passed from one generation to the next” (Newton1). According to the “Art of Mehndi”, “henna is a small shrub called hawsonia inermis inermis, and is also known as Henne, Al-Khanna, Al-henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Mendee, Egyptian Priver, and Smooth Lawsonia. Henna grows in hot climates and is found in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Persia, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and other North African, Asian and Middle Eastern Countries (1). Depending on the location, the designs for mehndi change. For example, “Arabic (Middle –Eastern) mehndi features large, floral patterns on hands and feet, while Indian (Asian) mehndi uses fine line, lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; African mehndi art is large and bold with geometrically patterned angles. African mehndi patterns usually use black henna while Asia and Middle-Eastern mehndi is often reddish brown” (Fotopoulou 1). Even though henna is used in multiple cultures, many associate it with the Hindu marriage ceremony. The bride has a Mehndi party which is a type of rites of passage ceremony into womanhood. Mehndi becomes part of a girl’s vocabulary for feminine expression (Newton 1). In addition, it is said that “when a bride has mehndi done for her wedding, the darker the design, the more her mother-in-law loves her. A good deeply colored design is a sign of good luck for the marital couple. It is common for the names of the bride and groom to be hidden in the mehndi design; and the wedding night cannot commence until the groom has found the names. A bride is not expected to perform any house work until her wedding mehndi has faded” (Fotopoulou 1). When her henna has faded, her initiation into womanhood is complete and she can start fulfilling her duties as a woman. Also, in having the groom find the hidden names, it is a way for the bride and groom to get to know each other because of the intimacy of the act. Also, in India, henna is included in the “Kama Sutra as one of the sixty-four acts for women” (Newton 1). In comparison, henna in Morocco is used to guard against misfortune and it is used for its magical powers (Newton1). Also, in Morocco, pregnant woman who are in their seventh month will seek out henna practitioners called hannayas to paint certain symbols on their ankles, which will be encircled with a corresponding amulet (Newton1). This is supposed to protect the mother and child when she goes into labor. Overall, henna is a modification of the skin that culturally has magical powers for women. It serves as a rite of passage into womanhood as well as protecting them through birth. Henna is a woman’s celebration of beauty and recognition of a woman’s powers. Ultimately, it seems that the art of mehndi is a form of body modification that is truly seen as something positive in every aspect. It is art, a sign of love, a passage into womanhood, protection, and is believed by some to have magical powers.
Works Cited
Fotopoulou, Sophia. “The Art of Mehndi” Newsfinder
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/the_art_of_mehndi/
Newton, Patti. “Mystical Henna: The Sacred Art of Mehndi”.
http://planetvermont.com/pvq/v8n2/henna.html
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