Lailat Al-Henna

Henna Night is one of the most important wedding ceremonies. Everything on Henna Night is of an ancient character. The food, the drinks, and the gifts are all traditions in their own rite.  It begins in the evening and the women come dressed in old traditional folk clothing called "Malabis Qadima," which translates literally to 'Old Clothes'. They dance to old songs and a special henna artist creates the patterns on the women present. She sometimes brings an assistant if the number attending the wedding is particularly large. Usually, women put henna on just the hand or arm, but the bride traditionally puts henna all over her arms and legs. In some cases, she may even opt to put some on her back.