Henna designs have been offered at Bastille Days for so long now, they are almost as French as wine and beignets. This year, five artists will provide henna during the entirety of the festival in the International Marketplace.

Anita Filips has been doing henna at Bastille Days for 16 years and works every hour of the festival. Four other henna artists take shifts to assist in the popular attraction. Before Filips had other artists, lines could get 20-30 people deep. Now she believes the wait will be shorter.

"My seasoned artists can do anything," says Filips.

The price of a henna starts at $20 for a detailed hand design. Henna tattoos are usually applied to the hands and feet, where they last the longest, but can be applied to skin anywhere on the body.

Filips, a longtime artist who graudtaed from MIAD, started practicing henna two decades ago. Bastille Days is one of her favorite places to share her creativity.

"I love the smell of beignets, the energy of downtown Milwaukee, as they gather to experience the food, the art, the music and the culture of what Bastille Days brings," says Filips. "My favorite artists and I get the opportunity to share the art of henna. This brings me joy."

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The origin story of henna – also called "mehndi" – varies greatly. What is known for sure, however, is that it has been used for cosmetic and healing practices for at least 5,000 years. Traditionally, and still today in Indian and other cultures, henna is applied to women before major life events, such as marriage.

In Milwaukee, most people get henna tattoos just for fun. Because the designs last seven days to a few weeks, they're a lesser commitment than a real tattoo, much cheaper and serve as a way to mark an event or simply adorn the body.

So what is henna?

Henna is a small shrub found in hot climates in places like India, Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt and the Middle East. The leaves, twigs and flowers are ground into a powder, mixed with hot water, put into a cone similar to a frosting sleeve and then applied by an artist to the skin.

"I love experiencing these sacred, therapeutic moments connecting with people from all walks of life through this ancient art form," says one of the henna artists, Renee Bebeau, who has also been a henna artist for two decades.

Úna Roberts will work as a henna artist for the first time this year, but she's received henna for most of her life.

"I’ve been getting henna from Anita since I was really young and have always been very interested in it," she says.

During the pandemic, Roberts ordered some henna "cones" and started practicing. Over the last few years, she taught herself using a combination of tattoo pens and traditional henna.

"I love seeing the final piece and feeling like I was able to make someone’s day with my art," says Roberts.

For more information about Bastille Days, click here.