COOKIES FOR HENNA NIGHTS

The henna night is a special day for Turkish bride-to-be; some night similar to the bachelorette parties. Turkish bride-to-be get together with female friends and family members a couple of days before their wedding to celebrate.
There are many different traditions about dying hands with a piece of henna, but most interesting part is when everyone sings together to get the bride-to-be to cry. The folk songs sang together mention about mom’s and dad’s most beloved leaving her home. The dress is special for the girl: a red dress with a red veil – therefore the cookie in such design.
How henna dyes hand is as follows: it is kneaded with water, placed on a tray or special basket full of red veils-surrounded by candles…and brought to the room in company of the young girls attending the party. When it is time to dye the hand of bride-to-be, she usually does not open her hand until her mother-in-law places a piece of gold in her hand. Only after then the hand is opened and henna is placed in her palm.
After the henna ceremony, a party is held with music to enjoy.
Recently, henna nights have become traditional also in high society (it was popular in villages before)- I did give such a party, but I might have done it had I married these years. Just for fun.