Henna History &

Information

According to historians, henna body art was brought to India in the 12th century by the Moguls who used to trade with the Ancient Indians. Henna, or Mehndi, is a body dye paste created by grinding the leaves and twigs of the Henna plant and hot water. Various herbs and dyes can be added to the paste to alter it slightly. You can find the henna plant, or hawsonia plant, in the Middle East and North Africa. The earliest documented use of henna body paint comes from Ancient Egypt where the bodies of Pharaohs were decorated with henna markings before mummification. Henna body art is traditionally used in the Indian culture in ceremonies related to marriage. In the Middle East it customary for Arabs not to present their hands for henna if they are lying about something, and like in India, it is usually body paint for brides. In countries like Turkey, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia henna is a symbol of good luck. People in Morocco use henna body painting for many different things - pregnant women use henna designs on their ankles to protect them through childbirth; these designs remain family specific and are passed down through generations. African henna body art designs have a distinct geometrical element to them, and they are less decorative and ornate than the Indian mehndi henna body paint tattoos. Japanese and Chinese henna symbols are growing in popularity in Western countries. Japanese symbols are some of the most popular designs requested for henna body painting. It is interesting to note that the history of henna body art stretches far and wide, and the techniques are continually infused into today’s fashion, art, and traditional spheres.http://www.arthistoryguide.com/Henna_Body_Art.aspx http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/henna_history.html

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Henna is a flowering plant (Lawsonia Inermis Linn. syn. L. alba, fam. Lythraceae) whose leaves have been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool. Mehndi is the application of henna as a form of skin decoration.

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Henna Leaves

Henna Fields

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Woman whose hair is dyed with henna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna

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Henna is a form of completely organic Herbal temporary tattoo, which lasts for typically 1 -2 weeks

The history and origin of Henna is hard to trace with centuries of migration and cultural interaction it is difficult to determine where particular traditions began. There is very persuasive evidence that the Neolithic people in Catal Huyuk, in the 7th millennium BC, used henna to ornament their hands.The earliest civilizations to have used henna include the Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, Semites, Ugaritics and Canaanites. The earliest written evidence that mentions henna specifically used as an adornment for a bride or woman’s special occasion is in the Ugaritic legend of Baal and Anath, inscribed on a tablet dating back to 2100 BC, found in northwest Syria.The use of Henna in the 4th-5th centuries in the Deccan of western India is clearly illustrated on Bodhisattvas and deities of cave wall murals at Ajanta, and in similar cave paintings in Sri Lanka.Centuries of migration and cultural interaction make the task of determining henna’s exact origin a complex one. However, historians argue that henna has been used for at least 5,000 years in both cosmetic and healing capacities. Some researches argue henna originated in ancient India while others claim it was brought to India by Egyptian moghuls in the 12th century C.E. Still others will contend that the tradition of applying henna to the body began in the Middle East and North Africa in ancient times.There are also several medieval paintings depicting The Queen of Sheba decorated with henna on her journey to meet Solomon. The art of henna decorating has been practiced in Northern Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia, and EuropeMehndi (Henna body art) is an ancient Indian art form which has been performed for generations in India, but has recently been popularized by United States celebrities (e.g. music icon Madonna’s “Ray of Light” music video).

Women in India are traditionally painted henna on their hands and feet. The subject matter is rather abstract, and often incorporates religious and auspicious symbols.The application of henna to the body is neither painful nor poisonous. When used in body decoration, henna can be thought of as an organically-derived temporary tattooing. Henna simply a method of drawing various designs on the skin without the use of needles. As the skin absorbs and

reacts with the henna powder, the skin is actually stained for a period of up to four weeks. Because henna is a natural stain, it can’t be rubbed off or removed with soap and water.The dye, which is permanent on fabric or wood, lingers anywhere from 2-12 weeks on skin,In the 12th century, henna painting spread to India. It is on this continent that the art really blossomed.Traditional Indian designs tend to be very intricate, with dense design and detail. These designs are most often abstract, involving paisley shapes, lines, dots, pictures of fish, peacocks, and people can be found.Traditionally, friends would apply the intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride-to-be. Hidden among the tangled, intertwining patterns would be the initials of the bride and groom.

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THE FDA has a warning about Henna Tattooing that should be reviewed prior to its use.