The Art of Henna

Today is the wedding of my cousin, probably the closest cousin I have in my family. In honor of her wedding, to a wonderful friend of mine, I thought we would step inside the Gallery of Art and History in the Morocco pavilion of Epcot.Currently the exhibit, entitled Moroccan Style: the Art of Personal Adornment, features clothing, jewelry, and weaponry. One case of the exhibit features the tools and patterns of Henna. A small plaque, labeled “The Art of Henna,” in the display explains:

“These elaborate temporary ‘tatoos’ are created using a dye produced from the crushed leaves of the henna plant. Henna tattoos play an important role in weddings. The women of the wedding party gather on the evening before the ceremony for ‘The Night of Henna.’ Older women paint the hands and feet of the bride and her party while they share wisdom about married life. According to tradition, the new bride must do no work until the tattoos have completely faded.”

While my cousin may not have had “The Night of Henna,” I know she has been offered more than her fair share of words of wisdom. I hope she has a wonderful wedding day, and that her future is as bright as any star in the sky.