Category Archives: Items Knowledge
Items Knowledge: Hawaiian Lei
Item Real Name: Garland or Wreath (Hawaiian: Lei)
Lei are a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. It is not just flowers strung on a thread. Lei are a tangible representation of aloha in which symbols of that aloha are carefully sewn or woven together to create a gift. This gift tells a story of the relationship between the giver and the recipient. Many things can make up the lei. One can string flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers, and even bone and teeth of various animals into a lei.
The Hawaiian language does not distinguish between singular and plural. Therefore, the proper way to say the plural form of lei is actually just “lei.” However, on our website we have chosen to use the anglicized version of this word to prevent confusion.
Lei are a common symbol of love, friendship, celebration, honor, or greeting. In other words, it is a symbol of Aloha. Take a walk around Hawaii; you’ll find leis everywhere—graduations, parties, dances, weddings, and yes, even at the office. In Hawaii, any occasion can be considered special and “lei-worthy.” No one can resist the vibrant colors, the intoxicating fragrances, or the beautiful tradition of Hawaii’s most recognized icon…the flower lei.
The most popular concept of the lei in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers draped around the neck 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.
The History of the Lei
The lei custom was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by early Polynesian voyagers, who took an incredible journey from Tahiti, navigating by the stars in sailing canoes. With these early settlers, the lei tradition in Hawaii was born.
Most Hawaiians preferred the Maile lei–a leafy vine that has fragrant spicy-sweet leaves that is draped and worn open-ended to the waist. However, royalty and Hawaiian chieftains favored the fiery, vibrant Ilima—a thin orange blossom that requires hundreds of flowers to make a single lei strand. Hawaiian Princess Kaiulani’s favorite lei were the Pikake—named after the peacocks in her garden—for the heavenly white blossoms and sweet jasmine fragrance.
The state of Hawaii is consists of eight major islands. Each island has its own designated lei which represents a harmonious marriage of texture and color. Most of these leis are unavailable for shipping to the mainland due to strict agricultural laws.
Hawaii – Lehua
Oahu – Ilima
Maui – Lokelani
Kauai – Mokihana
Molokai – Kukui
Lanai – Kaunaoa
Niihau – Pupu
Kaho’olawe – Hinahina
About May Day
Since May 1, 1928, Hawaii has celebrated every May first as it’s official “Lei Day.” Hawaiians call it “May Day.” The flower lei are celebrated passionately on May Day with Hula, parades, and music. On May Day, most parents request to take a day off of work so they can watch their children participate in May Day festivities and programs at school. Everyone in Hawaii is encouraged to wear lei on May Day.
Video Instructions:
Lei Etiquette
Lei can be worn, received, or given for almost any occasion. In Hawaii, lei are given for an office promotion, a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, or any special event. Yet more notably, a lei can be worn for no other reason than to enjoy the fragrance, take pleasure in the beautiful flowers, or simply, to celebrate the “Aloha Spirit.”
There is one big faux pas that should never be made. Never refuse lei! Always graciously accept the lei with a toothy smile and a kiss on the cheek. (If you don’t feel comfortable with giving or receiving a kiss on the cheek, a warm hug is acceptable!) If you are allergic or sensitive to flowers, then discreetly and apologetically slip-off the lei. It is acceptable and considered a kind gesture to offer the lei to your spouse if you are unable to wear it.
If they cannot be properly worn around the neck, due to allergies or other reasons, (for instance a musician who would tangle the lei in his or her guitar strap), they must be displayed in a place of honor, such as the musician’s music stand or microphone stand.
Leis must also be disposed of properly; throwing lei away is akin to throwing away the person who gave the leis love. The proper way to dispose of lei is to return it to the place it was picked. If that is not possible, hanging it on a tree, burning it or any other way of returning it to nature are proper ways of disposal.
By tradition, there is one more taboo…it is considered (in Hawaii) impolite to give the closed (tied) lei to a pregnant woman. Many Hawaiians feel that the closed lei around the neck are bad luck for the unborn child. (Head Hakus and open-ended leis are acceptable to give to pregnant woman.)
YoVille Item Name: Coconut Top w/Purple, Pink Lei
Store Price: $4 YoCash
Released Date: Jan 2010
YoVille Item Name: Hawaiian Lei Garland
Store Price: $7 YoCash
Released Date: Apr 2011
YoVille Item Name: Hawaiian Flower Garland
Store Price: $7 YoCash
Released Date: Apr 2011
YoVille Item Name: Hawaiian Leaf Garland
Store Price: $6 YoCash
Released Date: Apr 2011
YoVille Item Name: Jumba Garland
(designed by 2011 Wedding Attire Design Contest)
Store Price: $6 YoCash
Released Date: Apr 2011
YoVille Item Name: Angela Garland
(designed by 2011 Wedding Attire Design Contest)
Store Price: $6 YoCash
Released Date: Apr 2011
Items Knowledge: Dragon Boat Festival items
(Left)Item Real Name: Dragon Boat (Chinese: 龍舟/龍船, Mandarin Pinyin: Long Zhōu/ Lóng Chuán)
YoVille Item Name: Dragon Boat (came form Chinese New Year 2010)
Store Price: $9 YoCash
Released Date: Feb 2010
(Middle)Product Item Name: Sticky Rice (Chinese: 粽子, Mandarin Pinyin: Zong Zi)
YoVille Item Name: Sticky Rice (came form Chinese New Year 2010)
Store Price: $0 free gift sending
Released Date: Feb 2010
Video Instructions:
(Right)Item Real Name: Dragon Boat Drums (Chinese:龍舟鼓, Mandarin Pinyin: Long Zhōu Gu)
YoVille Item Name: Hawaiian Puniu Drum (came form Hawaii Furnture at Hawaiian Wedding)
Store Price: $999 YoCoins
Released Date: May 2011
P.S.: YoVille always released the similar items in different theme, if you observe closely, you will get more fun in YoVille!
Duanwu Festival/Fifth Moon Festival (Chinese: 端午節/五月節, Mandarin Pinyin: Duānwǔ Jié/Wu Yue Jié), also known as Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional and statutory holiday on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month associated with Chinese and other East Asian and Southeast Asian societies as well. It is a public holiday in mainland China (since 2008), where it is known by the Mandarin name Duānwǔ Jié, and in Taiwan, as well as in Hong Kong and Macau, where it is known by the Cantonese name Tuen Ng Jit. The festival is also celebrated in countries with significant Chinese populations, such as in Singapore and Malaysia. Equivalent and related festivals outside Chinese-speaking societies include the Kodomo no hi in Japan, Dano in Korea, and Tết Đoan Ngọ in Vietnam.
Origin/History Video: http://www.youtube.com/
Origin/History Details: http://
Items Knowledge: Japanese Bamboo Fountain
Store Price: $599 Coins
Released Date: 23 Mar 2011
Of a wide sense, it was first used by Japanese gardeners long ago to scare deer and wild animals away from their gardens and crops, such as kakashi (scarecrow), naruko (clappers) and sōzu (below). Sōzu itself is a narrow sense and under the international recognition, funny and fortuitously Sōzu is adding water at Chinese meaning.
Sōzu(添水, そうず, Sōzu) is a type of water fountain used in Japanese gardens. It consists of a segmented tube, usually of bamboo, pivoted to one side of its balance point. At rest, its heavier end is down and resting against a rock. A trickle of water into the upper end of the tube accumulates and eventually moves the tube’s centre of gravity past the pivot, causing the tube to rotate and dump out the water. The heavier end then falls back against the rock, making a sharp sound, and the cycle repeats. This noise is intended to startle any deer that may be grazing on the plants in the garden.
Product view:
Bamboo water fountains are perfect partners for Japanese Zen gardens creating a calm and peaceful, serene atmosphere for relaxation and contemplation. Not only does the soft sound of flowing water add to the restful environment, in some cases, visitors to the gardens or shrines are encouraged to wash their hands or even rinse their mouths from the water in the basins.
Items Knowledge: Japanese Painting
Item Real Name: Japanese: 神奈川沖浪裏, Japanese Pinyin: かながわおきなみうら Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura (English: The Great Wave off Kanagawa)
YoVille Item Name: Japanese Painting
Store Price: $599 Coins
Released Date: 22 Mar 2011
The Great Wave off Kanagawa (神奈川沖浪裏 Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura, lit. “Under a Wave off Kanagawa”), also known as The Great Wave or simply The Wave, is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokusai. An example of ukiyo-e art, it was published sometime between 1830 and 1833 (during the Edo Period) as the first in Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei (富嶽三十六景)), Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (富嶽三十六景 Fugaku Sanjūrokkei) is an ukiyo-e series of large and his most famous work, color woodblock prints by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849). The series depicts Mount Fuji in differing seasons and weather conditions from a variety of different places and distances. It actually consists of 46 prints created between 1826 and 1833. The first 36 were included in the original publication and, due to their popularity, ten more were added after the original publication.
Product origin/history: http://en.wikipedia.org/
Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji Map: http://
Product view: http://
Product original draft: http://
Product relates: http://15.pro.tok2.com/
Items Knowledge: Japanese Doll
Item Real Name: Daruma Doll (Japanese: 達摩, Japanese Pinyin: だるま Daruma)
YoVille Item Name: Japanese Doll
Store Price: $0 free gift sending
Released Date: 20 Mar 2011
These red , roly-poly dolls (papier-mâché) are called Daruma. They are a depiction of the Indian priest Bodhidharma, who introduced Zen Buddhism to China from India. It is said that he lost the use of his arms and legs after spending nine years meditating in a cave. The daruma dolls are heavy on the bottom and bounce back when tipped over, so it has become a symbol of optimism, good fortune and strong determination. Usually daruma dolls are sold without the eyeballs painted in. People paint in one eye when they set out to do something and paint in the other one when they have achieved the goal.
Items Knowledge: Chinese NY Banner
Item Real Name: (Cantonese: Fai Chun, Mandarin Pinyin: Hui Chun)
YoVille Item Name: Chinese NY Banner
Store Price: $2 YoCash
Released Date: 2 Feb 2011
It’s the red paper which name it Auspicious Messages/Red Paste with lucky greetings written on them are hang around the house and on doors/walls.
Simplified Chinese: “恭喜发财”
Mandarin Pinyin: gōng xǐ fā cái
Cantonese: Kung Hei Fai Choi
It’s the Chinese New Year greetings, means wishing you prosperity, hoping for good fortune during the year.
Items Knowledge: Chinese NY Envelope
(Left)Item Real Name: (Cantonese: Fai Chun, Mandarin Pinyin: Hui Chun)
(Right)Product Item Name: Paper Fan
(Left)YoVille Item Name: Chinese NY Envelope
Store Price: $299 Coins
Released Date: 2 Feb 2011
(Right)YoVille Item Name: Chinese NY Wall Fan
Store Price: $399 Coins
Released Date: 4 Feb 2011
The red diamond poster and paper fan with the character “福”, or some of decorations include a New year or Chinese culture picture, which are displayed on doors and walls. This word sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word “倒” (pinyin: dào), means “upside down”, sounds the same as “到”(pinyin: dào), meaning “arrive”/ “come”. Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.
Traditional Chinese: 福
Mandarin Pinyin: fú
Cantonese: Fook
means Blessing and good incoming luck.
Items Knowledge: Chinese NY Basket
Item Real Name: Fruits Basket Holds
YoVille Item Name: Chinese NY Basket
Store Price: $299 Coins
Released Date: 2 Feb 2011
In addition to red envelopes, which are usually given from elder to younger, small gifts (usually of food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or some other small gift.
Items Knowledge: Chinese NY Rabbit Envelope
Item Real Name: Red Envelopes (Mandarin Pinyin: hóng bāo, Cantonese: lai sze or lai see)
YoVille Item Name: Chinese NY Rabbit Envelope
Store Price: $399 Coins
Released Date: 4 Feb 2011
P.S.: The similar item has also released in 2010 Mystrey Box.
Red envelopes are passed out during the Chinese New Year’s celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is also common for adults or young couples to give red packets to children. Red packets are also known as the money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit during this period.
Items Knowledge: Chinese NY Candy
Item Real Name: Chinese NY Candy
YoVille Item Name: Chinese NY Candy
Store Price: $299 Coins
Released Date: 2 Feb 2011
Chinese candy box is a traditional box used during Chinese new year for storing candy and other edible goods to entertain of visitors, The box usually has a lid; some are more fancy and elaborate than others. It is usually colored with a red or black motif, since traditional candy boxes were lacquerware. Due to the higher price of lacquerware, most modern Chinese candy boxes are made of plastic/wood.
