adminRainwater Baths, Milk and Honey Facials, and My Cuban Abuela
When my fiancé and I started to plan our wedding, getting married in Miami was never a question. Despite the fact we both live in New York, celebrating in my…
The Sacred Malian Henna Ceremony That Signifies the Transition From Girl to Woman
Across many cultures, a wedding is the most important signifier of one’s transition from girl to woman—and it rings especially true for Malian people. The entire marriage process can last…
An Ethiopian-Eritrean Bride on the Power of Her Wedding-Day Braids
Hair braiding tells a story. Of womanhood. Of age. Of what it means to be Habesha and find your way back to rituals that almost disappeared. For Brehan, a 37-year-old…
How a Golden Hairbrush Helped a Bride Connect to Her Chinese Heritage
After the final combing, cypress leaves (to ward off evil spirits) bound with red string (signifying the union of bride and groom) were tied into the bride’s hair to secure…
A Golden Thread: How Turmeric Binds Indian Weddings Across the Generations
In India, turmeric doesn’t begin with symbolism. It begins in the kitchen: sometimes pulled from a packet, sometimes crushed fresh using a mortar and pestle into a thick yellow paste.…
