Garland

Decorative wreath or cord, used at festive occasions For other uses, see Garland (disambiguation). This article may be in need of reorganization to comply with Wikipedia's layout guidelines. Please help by editing the article to make improvements to the overall structure. (December 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance. In contemporary times, garlands are used to decorate, especially around holidays.

Tinsel garlands on a Christmas tree

[edit] From the French guirlande, itself from the Italian ghirlanda, a braid.

A daisy chain

[edit] Ophelia Weaving Her Garlands by Richard Redgrave, 1842 Bead garland Flower garland Lei – The traditional garland of Hawaiʻi. Daisy chain – A garland created from the daisy flower (generally as a children's game) is called a daisy chain. One method of creating a daisy chain is to pick daisies and create a hole towards the base of the stem (such as with fingernails or by tying a knot). The stem of the next flower can be threaded through until stopped by the head of the flower. By repeating this with many daisies, it is possible to build up long chains and to form them into simple bracelets and necklaces. Another popular method involves pressing the flower heads against each other to create a look similar to a caterpillar. In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, before Alice's adventures begin, she is seen sitting outside with her sister considering whether to make a daisy chain, before being interrupted by a White Rabbit. The terms "daisy chain" or "daisy chaining" can also refer to various technical and social "chains". Pennant garland Pine garland Popcorn and/or cranberry garland Rope garland Tinsel garland Vine garland Balloon garland Mundamala – Garland of severed heads or skulls, found in Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist iconography.

[edit] Indian subcontinent[edit] Heavy flower garlands for sale in Chennai, India In countries of the Indian subcontinent, such as India and Pakistan, people may place garland around the necks of guests of honour, as a way of showing respect to them. Garlands are worn by the bridegroom in South Asian weddings.

India[edit] A garlanded image of Devi at the Jain temple of Sravanbelagola Garlands were historically purely secular at first, sought for their fragrance and beauty and used for decorating houses, roads, and streets. It is eventually applied to Hindu deities as an important and traditional role in every festival where these garlands are made using different fragrant flowers (often jasmine) and leaves. Both fragrant and non-fragrant flowers and religiously-significant leaves are used to make garlands to worship Hindu deities. Some popular flowers include:

jasmine champaka lotus lily ashoka nerium/oleander chrysanthemum rose hibiscus pinwheel flower manoranjini, etc. House main door frame decorated with door frame garland (Nila Maalai) during a Housewarming party in Tamil Nadu Apart from these, leaves and grasses like arugampul, maruvakam, davanam, maachi, paneer leaves, lavancha are also used for making garlands. Fruit, vegetables, and sometimes even currency notes are also used for garlands, given as thanksgiving. Wedding ceremonies in India include the bride and groom wearing a wedding garland. On other occasions, garlands are given as a sign of respect to an individual person or to a divine image. A gajra is a flower garland which women in India and Bangladesh wear in their hair during traditional festivals. It is commonly made with jasmine. It can be worn around a bun, as well as in braids. Women usually wear these when they wear sarees. Sometimes, they are pinned in the hair with other flowers, such as roses.

South India[edit] In ancient times, Tamil kings employed people to manufacture garlands daily for a particular deity. These garlands were not available for public consumption. In contemporary times, each Hindu temple in southern India has a nandavanam (flower garden) where flowers and trees for garlands are grown. Large Shiva temples like Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur, and Arunachaleswara Temple, and those found in Thiruvannamalai still preserve such nandavanams for supplying flowers for daily rituals. Stone inscriptions of Rajaraja I at Thanjavur gives details of patronage bestowed by royals to the conservation of nadavanams that belonged to the "Big Temple". Marigold and nitya kalyani garlands are used only for corpses in burial rituals. At social functions, garlands are used to denote the host. At Srirangam Ranganathar temple, only garlands made by temple sattharars (brahmacaris employed for garland-making) are used to adorn the deity Ranganatha. Garland and flowers from outside the temple grounds are forbidden. Sattarars have several disciplinary rules for many aspects of their profession, some of which include:

A garland’s long, flexible shape makes it perfect for bridging gaps that a bauble or bauble‑laden branch can’t cover. When draped over a mantle, hearth rail or door frame it creates a visual line that ties together the whole room, guiding the eye from one festive focal point to the next. Because garlands can be layered with pinecones, berries, lights or ribbons, they adapt to any colour scheme—from classic evergreen to modern metallic. Their natural texture also softens the sharp angles of contemporary furnishings, adding a touch of countryside charm that feels instantly seasonal without overwhelming the space.

Start by deciding on the material: fresh evergreen offers authentic scent but wilts quickly, while PVC or fabric versions last year after year and are easier to clean. Length is the next consideration – measure the surface you intend to cover and add a 10‑15% surplus to allow for overlap and draping. For a lush look, look for a garland with a dense braid and generous filler such as pinecones or dried berries; a sparser strand works well as a backdrop for fairy lights. Finally, check the attachment method – metal hooks, adhesive strips or drape‑over loops – and choose the one that suits your walls without leaving marks.

Many people assume that a garland must be lush and heavy to look festive, but a light, airy strand can be equally striking, especially when paired with twinkling LEDs. Another myth is that garlands are only for trees; in reality, they excel on stair railings, banisters and even the underside of a kitchen cabinets’ ledge, adding unexpected sparkle to everyday spaces. Finally, the idea that garlands are purely decorative neglects their practical side – a well‑placed garland can conceal unsightly cables or gaps between adjoining walls, turning a functional fix into a decorative feature.