Crafting Indian Wedding Baskets: Traditions And Techniques

Indian wedding baskets, also known as Navajo wedding baskets, are woven from willow and bundled together with stitching made from split willow or sumac. The baskets are used by medicine men in all sorts of ceremonies, including wedding ceremonies, where they serve traditional corn meal mush to the wedding couple. The typical colouring of the baskets is red, black, and white, with each colour symbolising something different. For example, the black design symbolises the darkness (night) and clouds that bring the rain, while the red represents the life-giving rays of the sun.

The significance of the basket's design and colours

The design and colours of Indian wedding baskets are significant as colour plays a significant role in Indian culture and influences people's conscious and subconscious decision-making in their everyday lives. The symbolism of colours in Indian culture is rooted deep in religions.

Red is the colour most associated with Indian weddings, as it is considered the colour of passion, love, strength, and fertility. Brides are often covered in red from head to toe, and it is also worn by leaders and those in positions of influence to convey a sense of command and dominance. Red is also considered a symbol of prosperity and wealth.

Yellow symbolises knowledge, abundance, power, wisdom, and honour. It is associated with the spice turmeric, which is native to India.

Green symbolises new beginnings and happiness. It is one of the colours used during Holi, the annual Hindu festival celebrating the end of winter.

Blue represents wealth and virtue and is the colour of Lord Krishna, one of the most celebrated gods in Indian culture.

Saffron is a sacred colour, representing religious abstinence and the quest for light. It is often worn by holy men and ascetics.

White symbolises purity, peace, and spirituality. It is the only colour widows are allowed to wear and is the acceptable colour for funerals and ceremonies that mark death in the family. However, in some regions, especially in South India, white is also considered a symbol of purity and positivity and is worn during auspicious occasions and festivals.

The choice of colours and their combinations in Indian wedding baskets is, therefore, carefully considered to convey specific meanings and bring good fortune to the newlywed couple.

The materials and dyes used to make the basket

Navajo wedding baskets are made from willow, which is bundled together with stitching made from split willow or sumac. The typical colours of the baskets are red, black, and white, with the dyes used being derived from natural sources such as cochineal, bee plants, wild spinach, juniper root, mountain mahogany root, alder bark, and burnt juniper needles.

The basket is woven in concentric circles from the centre, with the artist creating long laces of sumac, willow, or yucca by hand and then alternating the laces to create patterns in the design. The design of the basket is deliberate, with each element holding significance. The white on the outside represents the outside world, the black on the outside embodies the rain clouds and darkness, and the red pathway is for rainbows and sun rays. The black on the inside represents the sacred mountains, with four to six points depicted, depending on the basket.

The basket's rim is always woven in a herringbone pattern, a distinctive characteristic of Diné baskets, which was eventually adopted by the Paiute when they started making wedding baskets for the Diné.

The basket's use in wedding ceremonies

Wedding baskets are an integral part of Navajo wedding ceremonies and are considered symbolic and highly important. These baskets are coiled and woven from willow, with stitching made from split willow or sumac. The typical colours of the baskets are red, black, and white, derived from natural dyes such as cochineal, bee plant, or wild spinach. The basket's design is deliberate, with each element holding cultural significance.

The Navajo wedding basket is used to serve traditional corn meal mush to the wedding couple and is then passed around to the guests. The basket's opening, or 'spirit path', faces east during the ceremony. The outside white area of the basket represents the dawn and outside world, while the black embodies the rain clouds and darkness. The red pathway symbolises rainbows and sun rays. The black area inside the basket represents the sacred mountains, with four or six points to designate four or six sacred mountains.

The creation of these baskets involves artists hand-creating long laces of sumac, willow, or yucca and then weaving the basket in concentric circles from the centre. This alternating lace technique creates patterns in the basket's design. Navajo wedding baskets are an art form that combines ancient traditions with contemporary innovations, making them a significant part of Native American art and culture.

The history of Navajo basket weaving

The Navajo basket-making tradition is steeped in history and cultural significance. The art of Navajo basket weaving has its roots in the deep annals of Navajo history and their migration to the vast American Southwest. The Navajo people adopted basket-making techniques from the Ancestral Puebloan people, creating baskets with a unique Navajo flair. Today, Navajo basketry is renowned for its innovation and creativity, with artists building upon ancient techniques to produce contemporary masterpieces.

The coil method of weaving is employed in the creation of Navajo baskets, utilising rhus trilobata, commonly known as three-leaf sumac. The foundation of all Navajo basket designs is the ceremonial basket, or ts’aa’, which holds sacred meaning and is used in traditional Navajo healing rituals and wedding ceremonies. The typical colouring of these baskets includes red, black, and white, derived from natural dyes such as cochineal, bee plant, or wild spinach.

The design of the basket is rich in symbolism. The white on the outside represents the outside world, while the black symbolises rain clouds and darkness. The red pathway signifies rainbows and sun rays, with the black on the inside depicting the sacred mountains. The number of points within this black area varies between four and six, representing the sacred mountains of Navajo belief. The outside white area represents the dawn, connected to the outer rim symbolising an individual's thoughts, prayers, and values.

In the late 1960s, Navajo basket weavers like Mary Holiday Black began experimenting with new pictorial elements, incorporating yei’s and eagles into their designs. This pioneering spirit ignited a period of rich innovation in Navajo basket artistry, with younger weavers like Elsie Holiday, Lorraine Black, Alicia Nelson, and Joann Johnson pushing the boundaries of representational and geometric designs.

The Navajo people used baskets for a variety of everyday functions, such as storing food, but they also held ceremonial purposes. The wedding basket, in particular, is of great importance in Navajo culture. At Navajo weddings, a new basket is used to serve traditional corn meal mush to the happy couple, after which it is passed around to the guests. The opening of the basket, known as the 'spirit path', is oriented towards the east during its use.

How to assemble a welcome bag

Welcome bags are a great way to make your wedding guests feel special, and they are especially useful for out-of-town guests. Here is a step-by-step guide to assembling the perfect Indian wedding welcome bag:

• Choose a bag: Opt for a colour that matches your wedding theme or go for something neutral like paper bag brown. You can also use a reusable bag customised with your names and wedding date.
• Gather the contents: Pick and choose from the following items to include in your welcome bag:

• Wedding weekend itinerary or schedule of events.
• Welcome note or thank-you message to your guests.
• Timeline of events to keep your guests informed.
• Key contacts for the weekend, such as one or two people guests can reach out to for any queries.
• Social media hashtag or app to encourage guests to share their photos.
• Map of the area and suggestions for things to do between wedding events.
• Snacks like pre-packaged chips, granola bars, Indian goodies (naasta, homemade cookies), or customised trail mix.
• Water bottles with customised labels.
• Hangover recovery kit with items like Advil, Altoids, and Pepto Bismol.
• Mints or candies in your wedding colours, such as mini Twix, Kit-Kat, or Snickers.
• Edible unique goodies related to your wedding destination, such as Chicago-style popcorn or black and white cookies for a New York wedding.
• Favours like a luggage tag, wine opener, or other fun items.

Assemble the bags:

• Create a sample bag to show your helpers what the final bag should look like.
• Use a large area to spread out all the items.
• Assign each person to be responsible for distributing one item into each bag.
• Add a piece of tissue paper before sealing the bag to give it a gift-like feel.

Deliver the welcome bags:

• Coordinate with the hotel manager beforehand to ensure they are okay with distributing the bags. Some higher-end hotels may charge for this service.
• Specify the number of welcome bags to be distributed per room or per person.
• Arrange for the hotel staff to hand the welcome bags to guests upon check-in or place them in guest rooms in advance.
• Get help from family or friends to transport the welcome bags to the hotel during the week before your wedding.
• For destination weddings, take the supplies with you and assemble the bags upon arrival at your destination.

Assembling welcome bags is a fun task to outsource to family and friends, and it will surely be appreciated by your guests!

Frequently asked questions