Lei (garland) Lei (garland) Lei () is a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. The most popular concept of a "lei" in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. This concept was popularized through tourism between the Hawaiian Islands and the continental United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. Children and sweethearts are poetically referred to as "lei" and many ancient and modern songs and chants refer to this imagery. A lei can be given to
Castleton Garland Day tied bunches of garden flowers. Once it is finished, a small posy named "The Queen", made of particularly fine flowers tied around a short stick, is inserted as a topknot into the top of the garland. In the late afternoon the Garland King and his female consort (confusingly, sometimes mistakenly referred to as "The Queen", but formerly simply "The Lady"), dressed in Stuart costume, mount their horses. The Garland, which is said to weigh between is placed over the King's head and shoulders; only his legs are visible beneath it. The dance starts at one of the village's pubs (the