Every special occasion in Hawaii calls for a lei: they're worn over even the fanciest dresses or suits. And no Hawaiian wedding, birthday party, graduation, awards ceremony, or musical performance would be complete without them.
Lei (spelled the same whether singular or plural, like "sheep") are worn as a necklace or placed on the head like a wreath. And always given with a smile and a hug or kiss.
And, yes, men wear lei too.
Lots of different native Hawaiian plants are used to make leis: flowers, but also leaves and fruits can be incorporated into lei. Lei can be as simple as a single strand of flowers. Or very complex- some lei incorporate many different plant materials into their intricate design, requiring many hours of work.
And some lei are not made of plants at all- the Island of Niihau is famous for its intricate leis made of tiny, colorful local shells.
There aren't many rules when it comes to wearing lei, just a few things to keep in mind: It's considered rude to remove a lei in the presence of the person who has given it to you, so if you must take one off before the celebration is over, do it discreetly. In general, a lei should never be refused, though don't be overly upset if a pregnant woman declines one: Hawaiian superstition warns that lei may choke the developing fetus.
No matter what the occasion, lei never fail to bring out the smiles in everyone:
Learn to make lei at home:
1 comment:
Beautiful picture of Laura!!!
And where is yours Dan? ;-)
Bye, Jacqy
Post a Comment