Colourful kokina heralds the holiday season – and a financial lifeline for those facing runaway inflation and discrimination When flower vendors put out the red and green _kokina_ on the streets, holiday season has arrived in Istanbul. Widely believed to have begun as a Christmas tradition of Turkey’s Greek community, _kokina_ is made by tying together two different plants that grow in the wild, and looks like a picture-perfect version of holly. Its name comes from the Greek for red. Continue reading...