Origin of Henna

The origin of Henna is difficult to track. It is one of the most famous cosmetic and is almost accepted by every culture, ethnicity, religious or spiritual beliefs. It is hard to determine from where the tradition began but strong evidence in history is found as to its being started by Neolithic people in CatalHuyuk, in the 7th millennium BC.

They used henna to decorate their hands in connection to one of their fertility goddess. The use of Henna was then later adopted by Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The mutual aspect of this tradition is the Henna plant itself. The plant can only grow in a constricted environmental range. The climate puts an exclusive set of stressors on human populations, and the Henna tradition recurrently replicates anxieties related with these stressors.Henna is mainly used on special occasions, ceremonies or celebrations around the globe. The traditions and practices were made according to the people’s beliefs and needs. These traditions amalgamated or moved through cultural diffusion; at times they became inventive at the time of wealth and leisure, and sometimes they disappeared because of cultural or climatic change.The origin of Henna is hard to outline. There are many conflicting stories presented as to where Henna was first used. However, as a simple plant it is found in many different parts of the world; especially at places with hot climate. It is mainly famous in Hindi and Muslim countries. In West it is used as a momentary alternative to a life-long perpetual tattoo.Countries where Henna can be found include Pakistan, Iran, Persia, Syria, Egypt, Morocco and India. The color of Henna varies according to the origin and the quality of the plant grown. The regular dyeing properties in Henna are tannins.Henna has several names varying from the origins it is found in. Some of them are Mehndi (Hindi), LawsoniaInermis (Latin), and Henna (Arabic). The synonyms includeAl-Khanna, Al-Henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet and Smooth Lawsonia.