Traditional Henna Night

A ceremony before wedding

Traditional henna night is organised in bride’s house with hospitality the day before of wedding ceremony. All relatives and friends of bride and groom participate in henna night. The day of applying henna, a flag is displayed in bride’s house by groom’s family which is meant wedding ceremony has begun. Henna is bought by groom’s family and sent one day before to bride’s house with some cookies and dried fruits. A tray is prepared meticulously includes dried fruits, deserts and henna havla on it what we call “henna tray”.  

Henna tray

In the beginning of henna night the bride wears an elegant dress according to region, and then before applying henna, changes her dress type of chiffon costume as “bindallı” made by velvet mostly red decorated and recumbent from shoulders to ankles. Also bride’s head is covered by a red scarf. Afterward henna is mixed in a copper pot by a woman who never divorced yet and has happy marriage. A coin is put in henna for wishing to bride and groom live in fertility.

Henna night dress

Before start to applying henna a chair is placed in middle point of salon/living room. Henna, provided by groom’s family is decorated with candles on the tray and all women guests carry one candles on their both hands in copper pots. And after all women come out to saloon/living room in an order; firstly a young woman comes out with henna tray in her hands, secondly bride, and lastly other young women come and make a circle around the chair by singing a traditional henna folk song/calypso. Following that ritual the bride sits on that chair. While she sits on that chair henna folk song/calypso is sung by women. Main purpose of that folk song’s reducing the bride tears. The bride has to cry in henna night. If she does not she is blamed and she is exposed to funny gossips like “the bride impatient to get marry”.. 

The song goes like this with Turkish and English lyrics;Yüksek yüksek tepelere ev kurmasınlar - They shouldn't build homes on the high hillsAşrı aşrı memlekete kız vermesinler - They shouldn't give girls to faraway citiesAnnesinin bir tanesini hor görmesinler - They shouldn't upset the mother's one and onlyUçan da kuşlara malum olsun - May the birds carry the messageBen annemi özledim - I miss my motherHem annemi hem babamı - Both my mother and fatherBen köyümü özledim - I miss my village

When henna is applied women say “Bride do not open her hand”  thereon groom’s relatives put a gold into bride’s hand. But in today’s generation a key of a house or a car is accepted :)

Henna is applied to bride’s already opened hands, a red scarf is tied up around her both hands and two velvet gloves are worn. After applying henna the scarf is removed which covers head of bride and henna is treated to guests. Whoever find the gold in henna which hidden before treated, she is accepted the next fortunate bride candidate. After all that traditional activities women continue to sing folk songs and dances till late hours.