Art From Around the World: The History of Henna
Have you ever been to a fair or a carnival and had someone do a cool henna design on your skin? This neat tattoo-like substance is something many of us have tried, but how much do you know about its origins and traditional uses? The story is pretty interesting. This art form was introduced into Western culture in the 1990s where it is often referred to as “Henna tattoos.”
Henna is actually the name of the plant that has been used for this intricate body art. Since it has such a rich color and is such a strong dye, it is has also been used to for dying hair, fingernails, fabrics, and even animal fur! Usually the plant is dried and crushed up to form a powder and then mixed with a liquid such as water, lemon juice, and even molasses. The first signs of henna use are in ancient Egypt where some mummies were found to have their fingernails dyed with the paste of this plant.
While we now get to try out Henna tattoos for fun, this beautiful, traditional art form is actually called Mehndi and has been around for thousands of years! It was developed by the Ancient Indians and was part of Hindu ritual. Its use began as part of the tradition of women meeting their husbands and it developed into a symbol of fertility and femininity. Festivals and holidays began incorporating henna as part of the celebration and this practice continues to this day. It began being symbolic of luck, joy, and beauty. The designs represent the “outer sun” and “inner sun” and is usually painted on the hands and the feet. At first it was only meant for women, but eventually it was used on men as well. Today, Mehndi is traditionally used for weddings and is a very important part of the marriage process. At a pre-wedding ceremony, usually held at the bride’s house, a professional artist will come and draw the intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride. Among these beautiful, traditional designs, the artist will often incorporate the initials of the groom. Because of its use in weddings, the art form and its methods have undergone numerous innovations such as developing even more intricate line work, adding glitter, cultivating different henna varieties, and improving how the henna is processed. So, now you know this awesome art form came from thousands of years of history and tradition, and now you get to enjoy it too! To try out henna on your own, follow the link for kids and design patterns!
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