2006年VOA标准英语-Americans Embrace Centuries-Old Art Form

By Arti Jain and Amy Katz
Los Angeles, CA
17 January 2006
 
watch Henna Art report

It is believed that the art of body painting with henna dye dates back to the Middle East 5,000 years ago. From there it traveled to parts of Asia and became especially popular on the Indian subcontinent.  Now, thanks to American celebrities¹ like Madonna and Gwen Stefani, who discovered the ancient art, henna has found a new following in the United States.  Arti Jain of VOA's Hindi Service filed this report from Los Angeles.  It is narrated² by Amy Katz.

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Darcy Van Gelder 
  
Darcy Van Gelder got interested in henna art -- or Mehandi -- ten years ago.  She loved it so much she became a professional henna artist.  She believes that henna is no longer just a fashion fad³ for a few celebrities.

"Lately it has entered a very middle class mainstream,” she says. “I am seeing a lot of conservative, middle-aged⁴ people who are living in the suburbs, wanting to do Mehandi for things like their house parties and even for weddings and things like that."

Americans are even hosting "Henna Parties."  They are much like what are know as "Henna Nights" in eastern cultures -- friendly gatherings⁵ where people socialize and apply henna for each other.

Henna art being applied⁶ to the skin   
  
Traditionally henna was used to adorn⁷ the hands and feet of a bride.  But now, it is even being painted on much less traditional body parts.

"It is beautiful to see the belly⁸ as something positive, and happy, and auspicious⁹, rather than something that should be covered," says Ms. Van Gelder.

Men are even getting into the act.  Gordon Fontaine, explains why he had his feet decorated.

"I was thinking the hands are a beautiful place to get it but as a man I am just not as comfortable in getting it on my hands."

In California, it is now popular to hire henna artists for parties.  And it is catching¹⁰ on in the corporate¹¹ world, too.  Renda Dabit -- who opened a store where she applied henna, soon saw her business explode [grow rapidly].  Ms. Dabit says she believes there are many reasons to have the temporary art applied.

 
Renda Dabit  
  
"Henna has become whatever people want it to be, it depends to who it is, it becomes that. You know it could be just art, it could be part of a cultural background, it could be just a way to decorate yourself with, a trying out a tattoo¹² before you get a real tattoo," says Ms. Dabit.

It seems in the U.S., the ancient art of henna painting has become a modern day trend.

1 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

2 narrated   

v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 fad   

n.时尚；一时流行的狂热；一时的爱好

参考例句：

• His interest in photography is only a passing fad.他对摄影的兴趣只是一时的爱好罢了。
• A hot business opportunity is based on a long-term trend not a short-lived fad.一个热门的商机指的是长期的趋势而非一时的流行。

4 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

5 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

6 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

7 adorn   

vt.使美化，装饰

参考例句：

• She loved to adorn herself with finery.她喜欢穿戴华丽的服饰。
• His watercolour designs adorn a wide range of books.他的水彩设计使许多图书大为生色。

8 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

9 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
• With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。

10 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

11 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

12 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。