Tunisian henna night: traditions, harkous and what to wear

Ask a Tunisian bride which night she loved most and many will say the henna, before the big evening. It is the celebration of close family, home music and zgharit (ululations). Here is what happens at a Tunisian henna night, what to wear, how it differs from region to region, and how families invite guests to it.

How the henna night unfolds

The bride, in traditional dress, receives the women of her family, her friends and neighbours. The hannana (الحنّانة) prepares the henna paste, often with rose water, and applies it to the bride’s hands and feet; guests who wish can have some too. Women sing taalilas, songs of praise and blessing, and the best-known opening is “Ya lalla meddi idik lel-henna” — “Lady, hold out your hands to the henna”. Guests line up to place money between the bride’s fingers or around her neck, a gesture of support described by Fanack.

Henna and harkous are not the same

Henna is the paste that stains the skin reddish-orange. Harkous (الحرقوص) is a black ink used to draw fine patterns on the hands and feet. In the traditional Tunis wedding week, harkous even had its own day after the henna. Henna from the oasis city of Gabès is famous across the country.

The groom’s henna

The groom usually has his own evening with the men. His henna is discreet — a little on the fingers, applied by his mother or an older sister — and it is also when relatives contribute to the wedding expenses.

Henna, outia and jelwa

• Henna — the henna evening, found in almost every region.
• Outia — mainly in Tunis and the north: the big women’s evening the night before the wedding, with the bride on a raised seat changing outfits several times.
• Jelwa — in the Sahel, the bride’s dance; in Sfax, her unveiling. The same word means different moments in different places.

What to wear

The bride wears traditional outfits — the ksaoua (above all at the outia), fouta w blouza, kaftan — often with red. As a guest, traditional dress is always welcome, and a fouta w blouza is the safest choice; see what to wear to a Tunisian wedding. The full sequence of events is in our guide to Tunisian wedding traditions.

Inviting to the henna

The henna gathers close family and women, so it is not always on the main invitation. Many families send one link for the main evening and a more intimate one for the henna. On a digital invitation, the henna is simply one more event with its date, time and map link — see our wording guide and the designs.