festoon

Festoon refers to a decorative chain or garland suspended between two points. It is typically formed as a curved swag of flowers, leaves, ribbons, textiles, or strings of light, and is used to embellish arches, doorways, ceilings, or outdoor structures. The form is often shaped as an arc or a continuous, linked strand.

Origin and terminology: The word derives from the French feston and the Italian festone, both meaning a garland or swag used in celebrations. In classical art and architecture, festoons are depicted as curved garlands of foliage and flowers, and the term has broadened to cover similar draped decorations in a variety of media.

Materials and construction: Festoons may be natural—flowers, leaves, evergreen boughs, or fruit—or synthetic, including fabric, ribbons, and papier-mache shapes. They can incorporate lighting in modern use, from string lights to lanterns, and are often arranged in a gentle arc or as a series of connected swags.

Uses and contexts: Historically, festoons appear in sculpture, reliefs, and interior decoration as celebratory motifs. In architecture and theater, they frame openings or drape suspended ceilings. Today they are common in holiday décor, weddings, parades, and civic events, where a festive, seasonal or ceremonial atmosphere is desired.

Variations: The term can also describe the act of decorating with festoons (festooning) and, in horticulture, the process of training plants along a curved support. Related concepts include garlands and swags, which share a similar decorative logic but differ in material or form.