The holiday season, bringing food and fairs, opens in the Vienna area mid-November when the American Palestinian Women’s Association [APWA] hosts its annual holiday food and craft bazaar on Nov. 14 at Epiphany United Methodist Church in Vienna.

“We want our dear friends, the Americans, to come see our work and learn about our culture,” said Samira Nasser of Oakton, vice-chair of fund raising.

The display of Palestinian culture at the holiday bazaar includes hand-painted ceramics, intricate mosaic trays, embroidered linens and tapestries, hand-carved olive wood mangers and crosses and lots of food. Food, from falafel, hummus, and spinach in phyllo, to date-shortbread cookies and baklawa, is served throughout the day and can be made-up in decorative holiday packaging to-go.

APWA supports Palestinian women-in-need in the U.S. and at home in Palestine. The nonprofit organization helps newly-emigrated women get established in the metro region.



CHILDREN of the volunteers help out at the tables, and APWA members are eager to talk to Americans about their homeland and culture.

“This association is secular,” said Nasser. “We are Arab. We are Christians and Muslims.”

APWA imports gifts, such as olive wood religious artifacts, Jerusalem pottery and olive oil, from the Holy Land and the women of the association prepare Palestinian specialties to sell, from meals to sweets.

“As Palestinians, we love to make a bridge between Palestinians and native-born Americans,” said Nasser.