Henna Parties & Moroccan Wedding Traditions

Moroccan Jewish Traditions

Henna Parties & Henna Parties & Moroccan Jewish Traditions

In general, Moroccan Jews are considered part of the Sephardic population of Jewish people. Sephardic Jews have, over centuries, adopted many unique cultural practices and traditions from other ethnic groups in their respective countries — wedding traditions, such as the Henna party, are no exception!

Where is Sephardic Judaism rooted?

The word “Sephardic” comes from the Hebrew word for Spain, the origin of Sephardic Judaism. In 1492 hundreds of thousands of Jews were expelled from Spain unless they convered to Catholicism. The resulting diaspora included European countries on or near the Mediterranean Sea, northern Africa, and the Middle East.

Image Credit: BedrockPerson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is Henna?

Henna is a natural dye derived from the lawsonia intermis plant. The leaves are processed into powder, which is then mixed with a liquid substrate for application onto the skin or hair. Many cultures have been using henna for hundreds of years to create temporary designs on skin (generally on the extremities) as a means of celebrating holidays and life cycle events.

Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Top: Lawsonia inermis plant

Bottom left: Application of Henna to skin

Bottom right: Henna powder

Photographer: Andrey “A.I.” Sitnik, via Wikimedia Commons

Mary Carson, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

What is a Henna party?

Judaica artist Danny Azoulay says of the tradition, “The Jewish henna party is a time for celebration, a chance to wish the couple good luck and blessings, an opportunity for the bride and groom’s families to come together in jubilant circumstances, and an evening to honor Jewish rituals and ceremonies of the past imbuing them with a modern interpretation.” The ceremony generally takes place several days or weeks prior to the wedding, and involves (usually the mother or grandmother of the bride) applying thick, circular application of Henna to the palms of the bride and groom, often with a coin pressed into the middle. The longer the

paste is kept on, the darker the stain will become. Party guests may also receive Henna, either on the palms or as an elaborate design on the hands and/or arms.

Like any other Jewish festivity, the Henna party also includes food and refreshments such as snacks, sweets, and tea. There is also typically traditional music and dancing.

Adobe Stock/ adilcelebiyev

An elaborate henna design adorned with multiple colors and crystals

Ornate “thrones” used by the bride and groom during the Henna party

A bride on her wedding day with henna designs on her palms

Maor X, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amine.elbahij, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Examples of Traditional Foods

Top: Fried donuts, called sfenji

Middle: Mint tea surrounded by various sweets, such as apricots and dates.

Bottom left: An array of traditional cookies and sweets

Bottom right: Tajine, a stew-like dish prepared in an earthenware pot

Adobe Stock / luaeva

Ian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Adobe Stock / Gecko Studio

Adobe Stock / timolina

Fun Facts

There is an acrostic word composition — often referenced in more orthodox-leaning communities — that is made from the Hebrew letters that spell that word for henna, hina:

ח Challah - preparing challah and making the dough offering (hafrashat challah)

נ Niddah - maintaining family purity

ה Hadlakot nerot - lighting candles for Shabbat and holidays

There’s a Moroccan custom of henna powder being sprinkled in a bride’s shoes on the wedding day to help protect her from invisible earth-dwelling creatures known as djinn. The djinn, also known as genies, are part of Arabic mythology.

At the Henna party, a traditional bridal dress is called keswa el kbira, and the groom’s garment is called a jellabiya. They are usually quite lavish, designed to make the couple feel like royalty. The party’s host may also provide colorful outfits to guests.

Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme, via Wikimedia Commons

Left: A traditional bridal garment called a keswe el kbira