Welcome to Judy and Glenn’s Henna. The Henna ceremony is a time-honoured Sephardic tradition that dates back to ancient times. Originally, the Henna was “the” marriage ceremony. The bride’s family would present the groom with her dowry and the groom’s family would shower the bride with gifts of jewellery and perfume. The marriage ceremony would then take place and the couple would be united.
In modern times, the traditional role of the Henna has been replaced by the Ketuba ceremony. The groom still presents the bride with jewellery, but this consists of a simple gold wedding band. The groom’s family is not obligated to lavish her with gifts (phew!!!)
However, since the Jewish people are not ones to give up on traditions, a modern version of the Henna has evolved. Now, the ceremony takes place in the few days prior to the Ketuba ceremony. It is an opportunity for family and friends of the couple to wish them good luck and happiness in their upcoming nuptuals.
The word Henna itself is spelled in hebrew: “chet”, “noon”, “hey”.These three hebrew letters stand for three symbols of a Jewish woman’s responsibilities once she is married. “Chet” is the first letter of the word Challah which she places on the Shabbos table. “Noon” is the first letter of the word Nida, alluding to the laws of family purity which bring harmony into the couple’s relationship. “Hey” is for Hadlakat Nerot. Through the kindling of the Shabbos candles the Jewish woman transforms her home into a sanctuary of joy and peace. Together, these three symbols embody the role of a Jewish woman.
The bride is carried into the room on a silver platter as though it were Her Majesty's throne. The groom follows in the procession. The guests cry out "Lululu", a traditional Sephardic chant of joy and celebration.
Henna is a plant which becomes red when it is lacerated and mixed with liquid. Some women use it to colour their hair. Tonight it is being used as a symbol of the fertile earth and bearing of life. The couple will take some of the henna paste which has had perfume added to it and will place it in the palms of their hands. They will wrap a green ribbon around their hand in order to keep the henna in contact with their skin for as long as possible since it is said that the longer the henna colouring lasts, the more happiness and prosperity the couple will have. The bowl of Henna is decorated with candles and candy-coated almonds so that the couple should have a bright, sweet, and fruitful future.
Mazal Tov!