Palm Leaf Plaiting – a Mark 11 Craft

In Mark 11, Jesus enters Jerusalem and is greeted with palm branches being waved by the crowd. This craft is inspired by the use of palm branches in the story.

Materials Needed:

• Palm leaves
• Scissors
• Twine or string
• Optional: colorful ribbon or beads

Instructions:

1. Take a palm leaf and cut it into strips, approximately 1 inch in width.
2. Take three strips of palm leaf and tie them together at one end with twine or string.
3. Braid the three strips together, ensuring that the braid is tight and even. Continue braiding until you reach the end of the strips.
4. Tie off the end of the braid with twine or string.
5. Optional: decorate your palm leaf braid with colorful ribbon or beads.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 with additional palm leaves to create more braids.

Uses:

• Use the palm leaf braids as decoration for Palm Sunday or Easter.
• Hang the palm leaf braids in your home as a reminder of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
• Give the palm leaf braids as gifts to family and friends as a symbol of faith and hope.

Note: Please ensure that you are using palm leaves from a sustainable source and not harming any live palm trees in the process of creating this craft.