(The tattoo extends to her arms almost reaching shoulders. I forgot to take a photo of her palm, more intricate artwork there.)
While I/we admired my first henna tattoo last June, I was in awe when a colleague showed hers. They held the traditional henna party few days before her sibling’s wedding (like a bridal shower). The activity itself gives an opportunity for women of both families to bond. Some popular beliefs related to (wedding) henna party:
(a) A dark henna stain is said to be a sign of strong love
(b) The stain on the body for the next few weeks is a constant reminder of the special events surrounding the wedding day
(c) New brides are traditionally excused from housework until their henna patterns fade away
witsandnuts 
0 thoughts on “Literally intricate”
katcarneo
That must’ve taken a long time to make! The tattoo artist has a skillful hand. Only, I’d probably feel weird with my hands all painted up.
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fortuitous faery
i used to doodle on my palms back in high school. this is way cooler. fashionable, even! 😛
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ever
may ibig sabihin pala ang hena tatoo..
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Angeli
it kind of looks scary to me. 🙂
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cza
i used to have hand henna tatoos when I was still a kiddo. I grew up in Oman and my “yaya” in the middle east was omani and she used to do that to me to keep me still. Haha! I refuse to move around hangga’t hindi pa sya dry. =)
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SleeplessInKL
i know that sort of henna takes hours to make — something like from 10 am to 2 pm! i pity the bride actually 🙂
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dong ho
i never tried big ones. the one i tried in baguio was just small.
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Sinta
Gorgeous! I’ve tried my own diy henna, but failed miserably! Never as nice.
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kg
WOW! excused from housework until the henna tattoo comes off? dapat permanent na ipalagay nila! 🙂
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lawstude
ang galing naman. mahilig din ako mag pa tattoo ng henna pero sa mga di nakikita dapat like sa likod at arms.
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PM
very cool! i want one din!
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redlan
galing naman. ganda ng design. wish ko rin maging girl para walang trabaho after the wedding until mawala na yung henna pattern
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kayni
really nice =)
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Jeanny
It nice but I think I wont do that on my own hands and arms.
I experienced having a tattoo pero at my back lang and a teeny weeny design lang 😉
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Photo Cache
Oh yeah, how cool is that?
My Indian friend showed me another use for henna. She uses the red henna to “dye” her hair when she sees one or two grey hairs. Not only are the grey gone, it gives her hair a highlight of red.
I think I’m gonna try that since I found three more gray hairs. For years iisa lang, nagrecruit yata ng kasama eh.
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upto6only
wow ang ganda. I have an indian classmate in college who had a tatoo on her hand too. ganda talaga ng details.
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Rico
Wow! Very, very nice! You MUST update this and post the palms too!
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Amelia
its part of the tradition 🙂 it looks scary but if you see the details whew! it was artistically done :)) I some some of those here with Indian/Muslim traditions…
I had my first henna tattoo in Puerto Galera back 2004, in my hands 🙂 I thin it’s a butterfly one 🙂
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Josiet
Excused from housework? Yehey! LOL!
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Nomadic Pinoy
I think this is better than having a tattoo. Di man magtatagal, at least pwedeng ibahin na naman ang design.
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Rach (Heart of Rachel)
That’s a work of art. Thanks for sharing the significance of henna to a wedding. Very interesting.
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