Flower Garland History
The practice of using flowers to create garlands is an ancient one. Human cultures around the world have used flower garlands for ornamentation, celebration and ceremony.
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A Worldwide Practice
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Although most people today associate flower garlands with Hawaii, they are common in cultures across the globe. In India, flower garlands are used to show respect for deities and to celebrate marriages and anniversaries.
Polynesian Tradition
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The Hawaiian tradition of floral garlands (called leis) came from the Polynesian voyagers. In Polynesia a floral garland was a way to show honor and affection for another person, or as a way of saying goodbye or hello.
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Hawaiian Tradition
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The ancient islanders used leaves, flowers, shells and feathers for adornment and ritual. Certain flowers had special significance, such as the red lehua flower, which symbolized the volcano goddess Pele.
Lei Presentation
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Originally in Hawaii, the giver bowed as he offered a lei to the recipient. This tradition changed when American GIs arrived in Hawaii, as islanders placed leis over the soldiers' necks and kissed their cheeks in gratitude.
Symbol of Hospitality
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Visitors who arrived by steamboat in the late 1800s were greeted with leis upon their arrival. Some visitors believed that tossing their lei from the ship as they left would ensure they would revisit the islands someday.
Lei Day
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The first Lei Day was celebrated in Hawaii in 1927 to recognize the custom of giving and receiving flower garlands; it became an official holiday in 1929.
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