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A Short History of Henna

Moorish Spain
Moorish and Christian women in medieval Spain hennaed their hands and feet. Henna was outlawed by the Spanish Inquisition in 1566, along with other Moorish customs, such as frequent bathing and abstaining from wine and pork.

Morocco: a woman from the Antiatlas Mountains
In Morocco henna patterns are used to protect the wearer from evil, and to promote luck and fertility. Henna, in Morocco, is regarded as having "baraka", or blessing, and therefore has the power to dispell djinn, the jealous and evil spirits who can cause sterility, disease, death and impoverishment. Women, especially brides and new mothers are regarded as susceptible to attacks by djinn. The wearing of henna insures that djinn will be thwarted from their evil intentions.

Buddhism
Hands and feet of boddhisatvas and female deities are frequently shown decorated with henna in Buddhist art in India from the 6th century to the 13th century. The Buddha is less frequently hennaed. Source: 5000 Years of the Art of India by, Mario Bussagli, pub. Harry Abrams Inc. New York Most sacred images from the 9th to 13th centuries in the Tantric Buddhist art from Nepal, Tibet and Ladakh, show hennaed hands and feet. At that time male deities are hennaed as frequently as female, and demons are hennaed as well as deities.

Persia
Many of the female musicians from Persia, from 900 to 1600 are depicted as having henna patterns on their hands, feet, arms and legs. The patterns are frequently extremely intricate and elegant. In Persian art, courtesans, brides, and Peris (female angels) are also often shown decorated with elaborate henna patterns.

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