Bulgarian Gypsy Henna, and henna as an anti-pollution device

[ Follow-ups ] [ Post Follow-up ] [ The Henna Page Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on August 18, 1999 at 17:17:58:

This is quoted from "Bury Me Standing, The Gypsies and Their Journey"
by Isabel Fonseca, Vintage Books, New York, 1995

"....Emilia lit up at talk of her "Ceiz" (night of the henna). "I sat
there with all my new things for the whole day, right there in the
middle of the bed." It was easy to imagine Emilia as a homecoming
queen on her float (the bed in her current flat was a draped,
four-poster barge of diaphanous lilac fluff). From her wedding album
Emilia gave me a picture of herself in all her finery, fronting her
game-show haul of brightly colored alternately furry and lusterous
gifts. She wore a white dress and stiff matching hat that resembled
an upended bowl. with flowered tassels hanging down from it like
stringed popcorn.
""What is that on your hands?" I asked, doubtful that the leathery
taloned fingers in the photograph could be those of a
thirteen-year-old. It was henna - which was used intermittantly to
"clean" the bride during the week-long ritual of dances and naps and
switched of clothes and, finally an all-girl "baptism" down at the
municipal baths.
""The longer the henna stays on your hands, the longer your man will
love you." Emilia shrugged. "That's what they say." The stained
hands were echoes of the bloodstained sheet, which had already been
made into a flag and waved through the quarter by a younger sister of
Plamen, proud owner of one certified virgin-bride. "

"...It wasn't marriage per se that did them [women] in [made them
unclean, and thus in need of "cleaning" by henna]; it was the onset of
menstruation (though the two usually coincided), from which point on,
women had the power to pollute men. "

!!!!

The photograph of Emilia in this book shows fingertip dip henna, and
patterning on the front and back of her hands. I'll hit the library
today and see what I can work with to make a sheet of Bulgarian Gypsy
patterns for henna artists......email me if you want a .gif sent to
you......

Thanks to Dawn for bringing me "Bury Me Standing", as she knows I'm a
hopeless addict of henna history and traditions!!!!! Anyone who
can...READ THIS BOOK!

other bits of henna history at Mehandi from the TapDancing Lizard

Follow-ups:

Re: Polution and silliness Shanon Lavender 13:45:15 8/20/99 (6)
- Re: Polution and silliness Amy C 17:57:55 8/20/99 (1)
  - Re: Polution and silliness (off topic!) Anon 19:11:15 8/21/99 (0)
- It gets a lot stranger Catherine Cartwright JOnes 16:33:24 8/20/99 (3)
  - Re: It gets a lot stranger SeeSee 20:20:57 8/20/99 (1)
    - Great Link! Catherine Cartwright Jones 20:33:04 8/20/99 (0)
  - Matriarchial vs Patriarchial Sara T 20:05:12 8/20/99 (0)
Re: Bulgarian Gypsy Henna, and henna as an anti-pollution device Amy C 20:10:18 8/18/99 (3)
- Re:browsing book Natasha Papousek 22:39:06 8/18/99 (0)
- Re: Bulgarian Gypsy Henna, and henna as an anti-pollution device Catherine Cartwright Jones 20:36:59 8/18/99 (1)
  - Re: Bulgarian Gypsy Henna, and henna as an anti-pollution device Right on! 17:26:32 8/19/99 (0)

Post a Follow-up

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: This is quoted from "Bury Me Standing, The Gypsies and Their Journey" : by Isabel Fonseca, Vintage Books, New York, 1995 : "....Emilia lit up at talk of her "Ceiz" (night of the henna). "I sat : there with all my new things for the whole day, right there in the : middle of the bed." It was easy to imagine Emilia as a homecoming : queen on her float (the bed in her current flat was a draped, : four-poster barge of diaphanous lilac fluff). From her wedding album : Emilia gave me a picture of herself in all her finery, fronting her : game-show haul of brightly colored alternately furry and lusterous : gifts. She wore a white dress and stiff matching hat that resembled : an upended bowl. with flowered tassels hanging down from it like : stringed popcorn. : ""What is that on your hands?" I asked, doubtful that the leathery : taloned fingers in the photograph could be those of a : thirteen-year-old. It was henna - which was used intermittantly to : "clean" the bride during the week-long ritual of dances and naps and : switched of clothes and, finally an all-girl "baptism" down at the : municipal baths. : ""The longer the henna stays on your hands, the longer your man will : love you." Emilia shrugged. "That's what they say." The stained : hands were echoes of the bloodstained sheet, which had already been : made into a flag and waved through the quarter by a younger sister of : Plamen, proud owner of one certified virgin-bride. " : "...It wasn't marriage per se that did them [women] in [made them : unclean, and thus in need of "cleaning" by henna]; it was the onset of : menstruation (though the two usually coincided), from which point on, : women had the power to pollute men. " : !!!! : : The photograph of Emilia in this book shows fingertip dip henna, and : patterning on the front and back of her hands. I'll hit the library : today and see what I can work with to make a sheet of Bulgarian Gypsy : patterns for henna artists......email me if you want a .gif sent to : you...... : Thanks to Dawn for bringing me "Bury Me Standing", as she knows I'm a : hopeless addict of henna history and traditions!!!!! Anyone who : can...READ THIS BOOK!

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow-ups ] [ Post Follow-up ] [ The Henna Page Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]