Cultural Roots
The origin of the handira wedding blankets is deeply rooted in the Moroccan Amazigh culture. A handira was traditionally made by the bride’s family and worn by her at the wedding as a cape. The blanket was given to the bride as a symbol of fertility and good luck to protect the newly wedded couple.

Symbolism
Each ‘handira’ is a one-of-a-kind artpiece that has been lovingly crafted and mostly decorated with embroideries and mirrored sequins. These sequins were traditionally used to attract positive energy and to deflect the evil eye. Most handira blankets were crafted in White, which symbolizes purity. The blanket is decorated with beautiful patterns and symbols which do not only show the meticulous artistry of its creators, but are also meant as a protection for the newly wedded couple.

Preparation for marriage
Traditionally, several women of the bride’s family worked on the handira blanket together and the bride herself was often present during the creation process. While the women worked on the beautiful wedding blanket, they told the wife-to-be everything she needed to know about married life.

Decorative piece
While the handira wedding blankets are a testament to the rich cultural heritage and artistry of Morocco, they also are a beautiful interior accessory. Today, the handira became very popular as a bedspread or decorative piece. Handira blankets are even used as special art pieces on the wall. They really brighten up the room and have something magical about them, especially when the sequins catch bits of sunlight and cast little rainbows everywhere!