A garland is a decorative chain made by stringing together flowers, leaves, or other natural materials. Picture weaving daisies into a circle to wear as a crown, or draping long strings of pine branches and berries along a staircase railing at Christmas. That's a garland.

People have made garlands for thousands of years to celebrate special occasions. In ancient Greece, victorious athletes received garlands of laurel leaves. In Hawaii, visitors are welcomed with leis, which are garlands worn around the neck. During the winter holidays, many families hang evergreen garlands on their mantels or doorways.

Making a garland requires patience and creativity. You might thread flowers together with string, twist vines around each other, or wire pine branches into long ropes. Fresh garlands smell wonderful but wilt within days. Artificial garlands last for years but lack that authentic fragrance and texture.

The word can also be a verb meaning to decorate something with garlands, as in: “We garlanded the room with paper chains for the party.” When something is garlanded, it's draped or crowned with decorative chains, giving it a festive, honored appearance.