Last night I attended my first "henna party" here in Jordan. A henna party is comparable to a bachelorette party. My cousin told me that it would be a time where all of the women would remove their abbayas and hijabs and let loose because men were not allowed at the party. However, upon arrival I realized that this was not altogether true in this henna party's case. Most of the women (who, granted, were mostly older) did not remove any of their coverings the entire two hour event. Some of the younger girls removed their coverings and had short dresses (but with leggings) underneath but most remained modest.
The party was set up somewhat like an arena. There were plastic chairs set up facing a small dance floor and the bride's throne. Yes, she had a throne. The bride was in the most flashy and revealing outfit. She was wearing a big, poofy pink princess prom dress (alliteration!) and had sparkly ringlets, pink flowers in her hair, pink eyeshadow, pink lips, and her entire body covered in translucent powder. Oh, and a fake hummingbird tattoo on her breast. Quite glamorous.
The entire party was just me observing the culture quietly and then the occasional Arab dancing when we were pulled up out of our seats by the older women and forced into the middle of a circle to dance with the bride-to-be.
Tonight is the wedding! Woooo!!
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