Fridley High School’s Salaam Club hosted a henna art event in the District Auditorium annex on Friday, December 16. Members of the club provided henna tattoos to participating students and staff, who were impressed by the artistry of the elaborate designs.

“The students here are very talented at doing henna,” said Muna Hussein, president of the Salaam Club. “We wanted to bring it to students to show them the different designs we can do.”

Henna is a dye that can be applied to the skin as a temporary tattoo, a practice that has been traced back to antiquity in Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East. Henna tattoos typically consist of latticed and floral designs that hold symbolic significance to the cultures that adorn them as part of their customs and traditions.

Fridley Public Schools believes it is important to celebrate the many cultural traditions of its diverse student population and offer opportunities for students to learn about each other’s experiences. Hussein noted she was surprised by the large turnout for the event and felt encouraged by it as it was the first of its kind organized by the club. 

“I didn’t think there was going to be that many people at first, but I was wrong,” she said. “There were a lot of people that were really interested in trying it out.”

“Thank you everyone for supporting us!” she added.