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Just like the U.S. Of A., Israel is also a melting pot. There are many religions and ethnicities packed into a relatively small 8,019 square mile- strip of land. Yes, just like Bamba, Israelis come in many unique flavors. In the Arab community there are Christians, Muslims, Bedouins and Druze. There's Russian Israelis ( If you want to get the full experience, venture no further than Bat Yam), Ethiopian Israelis, French Israelis (Toda Beaucoup!), American Israelis (What do you mean there's no Starbucks here?!) Moroccan Israelis and Yemenite Israelis, just to name a few. As such, Iike a Jerusalem cook book, Israel boasts a delicious and spicy blend of culture. One such tradition is Henna Art.
Though Henna art doesn't have a specific place of origin, the consensus is, that the tradition started during the Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean region. Henna is applied for any happy occasion (wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, Purim, etc) and according to tradition, it is applied for luck, joy and obviously beauty.
Got a wedding coming up? You'll need a cake, balloons, a husband and Henna. A Bar Mitzvah? You'll definitely need a corny theme, awkward speech and Henna. Passover party? You guessed it. Lots of matzah, all of your relatives packed into an eight-person table and HENNA! (Pretty much any simcha starter kit needs Henna).
Recently, Henna has become more mainstream because of its transitory nature, its cool factor (there's Henna studios opening up all over NYC) and its exotic beauty. In the spirit of this recent Henna mania, I sat down with my good friend, very talented Henna artist and owner of Henna Expression, Emmanuelle Glazier.
Sababa and the City: Where do you get inspiration for your designs? Emmanuelle Glazier: Henna on its own is an inspiring art. Something about the intricate patterns and the fact that it’s been around for ages inspires me. When it comes to my designs, I like to look at classic Henna art, nature, and cultural and spiritual symbolism from around the world. My favorite part about doing Henna is combining something meaningful, symbolic, and spiritual with the beautiful style of Henna art. SATC: How long does Henna stay on the body? Emmanuelle: Up to two weeks. SATC: Do different designs symbolize different things? Emmanuelle: Absolutely. For example, a hamsa mainly symbolizes protection. For some people, the hamsa goes even further to symbolize the divine hand. The lotus flower symbolizes purity and beauty. But it also represents spiritual awakening. That’s the thing about using symbolism in Henna. People relate to the same design in their own unique way. SATC: What does the word "Sababa" mean to you? Emmanuelle: To me, Sababa means, it’s all good!
Not sure you can commit to a Henna design for two weeks on your body? Don't sweat it! Emmanuelle also does Henna designs on tambourines, canvases or anything else you might want :)
To get a beautiful, custom Henna design visit Henna Expression.