The difference in designs

I’ve been doing some research to figure out what it is that makes up the bits and pieces in each design we see and cannot put it in words better than this excerpt from the Henna Page.

Essentially though, each design is made up of little patterns that are repeated in various ways. Here are some brief descriptions and links that shows some of the difference in popular styles:

• North African designs, like this Moroccan one, are known for the geometric quality of their designs.

• Designs from the Middle East allow for open space in the design and have an organic nature, usually incorporating vines and flowers.

• Persian designs are typically repetitive in that they have a very rhythmic quality to them.

• Pakistani henna often covers everything from the elbows to the fingertips with intricate designs.

• Indian henna depicts cultural symbols in many of the designs. Some of the most common motifs include buds (new life, love), peacock or paisley symbols (love, fertility or good luck), and the growing vine or scorpion (love or protection from the evil eye).

In India, one tradition is that brides are hennaed before their wedding. The initials of her groom are hidden inside of the design and if he cannot find them the belief is that she will be more in charge of their relationship than him. In some cases, not being able to find his initials means he also has to give her a gift.

Another tradition says that the darker a bride’s mehndi is, the more her mother-in-law will love her.

Henna has a traditional, symbolic and/or religious impact on most cultures except for that of America, where we embrace henna as purely decorative. American designs are often iconic, meaning that they are pictures of things we like.