Yemenite and Moroccan Jewish Henna Ceremonies – Wedding Traditions in Israel
Jewish Henna ceremonies are a traditional Yemenite/ Moroccan pre-party which take place a week before weddings and less commonly, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Henna is a plant whose leaves are crushed and mixed into a paste which is used in the ritual performed at the Henna party.
What is a Jewish Henna Party?
At the Jewish Henna party the couple/person whose “simcha” is being celebrated gets a dollop of Henna placed in the palm of their hand. Traditionally, the eldest family member – usually a grandmother – is the one responsible for dabbing the henna on their hand with a gold coin. This ritual is performed to bless the couple or the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child with good health, security, fertility and wisdom. In the Moroccan tradition Henna is a protection agent that wards off evil spirits and brings good luck.
After the Bride and Groom, or the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child gets blessed with the Henna, it is then passed around and placed on the palms of the guests and family members attending the Jewish Henna ceremony. The Henna is left to sit on the palm for a while so that it is absorbed by the skin, leaving an orange-red mark that stays on your hand for about 2 weeks. The blessing of the Henna is believed to last for as long as the color remains on the skin.
According to Moroccan folklore, a bride is not expected to fulfill her household chores until the stain of the Henna completely fades from skin. Some say that it is to preserve the stain on her palm for as long as possible.
Traditional Jewish Henna Clothes
It is customary for both men and women to dress in traditional Moroccan clothes at the Henna, women Kaftans or takshitas and men wear the Jalabiya. However, today often only members of the family hosting the celebration will dress in these traditional garments.
Jewish Henna Clothes for Women: Kaftan and Takshita
A Kaftan is an ornate robe with long sleeves, buttons down the front and is worn with a sash. This dress is traditionally worn only by women. Today there are many modern variations of the Kaftan which include shorter dresses or with no sleeves.
A Takshita is a two-piece outfit worn mostly at weddings. The first piece is a simple cloth dress. The second piece is an ornate over dress that is often decorated with beads, embroidery, sequence, etc.
Henna Clothes for Men: Jalabiya The Moroccan Jalabiya is a long white robe that men traditionally wear along with a Tarboosh. A Tarboosh is a tall truncated cone or short cylindrical hat that with a tassel on the top of it. Traditionally the hat is red and the tassel is black.
Jewish Yemenite bride at the Jewish henna
Yemenite Jews wear their own traditional clothes. Watch the video to get a sense of it.
Yemenites have a special strong affinity for Henna due to biblical and Talmudic references. Henna, in the Bible, is Camphire, and is mentioned in the Song of Solomon, as well as in the Talmud. “My Beloved is unto me as a cluster of Camphire in the vineyards of En-Gedi” Song of Solomon, 1:14.
It is amazing that the ancient Jewish Henna ritual has been preserved for so many years by the Yemenite and Moroccan Jews under Muslim regimes.
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