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Lei Day

Commemorative · Fun · May 1

Lei Day celebrates the Hawaiian lei, the garland of flowers, leaves, shells or seeds given as a sign of welcome, affection and respect.

Lei Day falls on Saturday, May 1, 2027. That is 186 days away.

A lei is a garland worn around the neck, and in Hawaii it carries real meaning. People give one to say welcome, congratulations, goodbye or simply I care about you. Lei Day honors that custom and the craft behind it.

Most people picture flowers, and plumeria and orchids are common choices. But a lei can also be made from leaves, ferns, seeds, nuts, shells or feathers. Some are strung by threading blossoms one after another on a long needle. Others are braided or wound, with plant material tied onto a base. Each method gives a different look, from soft and full to flat and patterned.

In Hawaii the day is marked with lei-making, music, hula and displays of finished garlands. Schools often hold programs, and many people simply wear a lei to work or give one to a friend. Elsewhere it is a chance to learn the craft or think about the people who keep it going.

There is etiquette, too. A lei is usually draped over the shoulders so it hangs in front and back, and it is considered unkind to refuse one or take it off in front of the giver. When a fresh lei fades, many people return it to the earth by burying it or hanging it on a tree rather than tossing it in the trash.

Ways to celebrate

• Try stringing a simple lei from garden flowers or leaves.
• Give a lei, real or paper, to someone you appreciate.
• Listen to Hawaiian music or watch a recorded hula performance.
• Look up the different lei-making techniques and their names.

Dates

All national days on May 1

Also on May 1

• National Chocolate Parfait Day
• Free Comic Book Day
• National Homebrew Day
• Mother Goose Day
• National Scrapbook Day
• Loyalty Day

Categories: Commemorative daysFun days