ISTANBUL, Turkey - Turkey’s Kokina flower, also known as butcher’s broom, is a traditional and symbolic plant in Turkey.
It is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. The flower has become a common gift or decoration during the holiday season. It is particularly popular around the New Year as a decorative item.
"That flower reminds us of the beginning of the year. It is a ritual to bring luck and we buy it every year for our loved ones. I bought one for a friend who I am going to meet," Aysun Kilickaya, a resident of Istanbul, told Rudaw.
Kokina is handmade, it’s a mixture of butcher’s broom and smilax excelsa.