Is the contemporary, fashionable use of henna sacrilegious?
Though henna is used in the context of many celebrations, some of which religious, henna is not in itself sacred. Henna is applied by mothers, sisters, and friends, rather than by clergy. Henna it is most frequently applied in a home, rather than in a church, synagogue, temple or mosque…. The application of henna is considered auspicious and lucky, but is not required as a sacrament in any religion. Henna is a cosmetic women use to make themselves attractive to their husbands, for good luck and as a part of looking their best, rather than as a sacred decoration for a spiritual purpose. Henna is part of the social celebration of life’s events: weddings, births, naming, circumcisions, festivals, funerals….and is very frequently used between the women of a family to strengthen friendships and familial bonds. Henna is nearly always regarded as beautiful, blessed and lucky, even as being effective in repelling malevolent spirits, rather than being specifically sacred. Henna is a part of
