A beautiful red wildflower grows abundantly across historic Palestine in the spring and early summer. It is called Hannoun (passionate) and shakik (brother) in Arabic, the Palestinian poppy in English, and its Latin name is anemone coronaria. 

To make this craft, which echoes colors for Christmas and the Palestinian flag, gather the following supplies:

• Sheets of red, green, and black construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors

Cut out two green leaves and six red petals for each flower. Bend the petals slightly. Cut out a black circle and use scissors to make the edge of the circle fringed by making cuts close together all the way around the edge. Fold the fringe slightly upward.

Glue the petals together at the base. Glue the black center on top of the petals. Glue a leaf to the back side of a petal on opposite sides of the flower. 

Place your flower in the center of your dining table.

Or make this a group activity at your congregation and use the flowers to decorate the sanctuary or the refreshment and fellowship hall.

Read more at The Kobio Project. "There is...irony here. The Imperial British symbol of remembrance, the red poppy, is also a national symbol of Palestine, a nation whose obliteration was initiated in one of the closing acts of said imperium."

Post a photo of your poppy/poppies on social media with any or all of these suggested hashtags: #uupalestinepoppy #uupalestineaction #uujme #uuchristians #uusofinstagram #advent #palestine #indigenouschristians #palestinianchristians 

Consider tagging Palestinian Christian group Friends of Sabeel and ally Christians for a Free Palestine.

@fosnalive @christiansforafreepalestine

Photo credit: Emile Ashrawi