Everyone’s birthday is a special occasion, and they all deserve celebrations. When it’s your birthday, or it’s the birthday of someone you care about, there are a lot of ways to make the day a special one. One way to ensure that the day is special is to add a Hawaiian lei to the celebration of the birthday. The beautiful look and lovely smell of a lei is a fun reminder of how sweet life can be and how much the giver cares.
The lei has symbolized love and respect since ancient times. It has been used since that time at celebrations of all kinds as a symbol of everything from the love shared between two people to the rank of the wearer. In modern times, many people wear Hawaiian leis because they are fun and beautiful to wear. Wearing a lei to a birthday celebration adds a fun and traditional element that will add festivity to the day.
In Hawaii, a baby’s first birthday is an especially big day. Having a big party or a luau for a baby’s first birthday brings together food, fun and leis for everyone in attendance to welcome the, and show them respect. A lei can be given to the baby as a part of the ceremony, or the parents of the baby can exchange leis during the party.
Men’s Birthday Leis
Some men like a floral lei for a birthday party, but some prefer to wear a more masculine lei to these ceremonies. A masculine lei is generally made from either ti or maile leaves or from kukui nuts. These nuts are round and dark and make the lei last a long time. They are a perfect keepsake from a birthday party. Men may also choose the cigar flower lei. This lei uses many of the small flowers to make a colorful lei that is unscented. When it is a man’s birthday, he may prefer to wear the maile lei for his special day. This lei was worn by chiefs and served as a symbol of goodwill and peace.
Women’s Birthday Leis
Many women prefer wearing leis that are fragrant. Usually, these lei are crafted from fresh flowers. The flowers used in birthday leis can be any type that is fun to wear and pretty to look at. The soft feel of carnations as well as their sweet smell, make them a great birthday lei for women. Another flower often used is the exotic and beautiful orchid. Some women prefer leis made from long-lasting materials like nuts or seeds to allow them to keep their birthday lei as a reminder of the celebration.
Wearing a Birthday Lei
The proper way to wear a lei is to hang it from your shoulders and to allow half of it to fall down the back and half down the front. This traditional way of wearing a lei is still considered the right way to wear a lei. To present a lei to someone else, offer them either a cheek kiss or a hug to welcome them. Whenever you give someone a birthday lei, you are offering them a part of the spirit of aloha and letting them know how special they are to you.