Our goal is to keep the Christian Community working in the small olive wood factories and to live in Peace and Dignity, and stop
them from immigrating and leaving the land of Jesus.
History
The tradition of making the handicrafts began in the 4th century CE under Byzantine rule in Bethlehem — which continues to be the main city that produces the craft — following the construction of the Church of the Nativity. Greek Orthodox monks taught local residents how to carve olive wood. The art developed and became a major industry in Bethlehem and nearby towns like Beit Sahour and Beit Jala in the 16th and 17th centuries when Italian and Franciscan artisans on pilgrimage to the area — by now under the rule of the Ottomans — taught the residents how to carve. Since then the tradition has been passed on generation by generation and is dominated by the descendants of the original local carvers.
Today, the art continues to be a major source of income for Bethlehem's Palestinian Christian residents and is the most profitable tourist product in the city with the main purchasers being Christian pilgrims visiting in Christmas time. Olive wood is carved into crosses, boxes, picture frames, covers for historical and old books, candle holders, rosaries, urns, vases and Christmas ornaments as well as scenes of the Holy Family. Olive wood branches are supplied by olive groves in nearby villages as well as from the Nablus and Tulkarm region, despite the difficulty of transportation in the West Bank.
Our story
The olive wood craftsmen of Bethlehem have suffered dramatically since the current crisis began in fall of 2000. The overall income of the families has dropped by 90%, the livelihood and economy of the Holy Land craftsmen are dependant on the sale of the works they produce. Most of the artists have closed their workshops and some have sold their tools, knowing they may never carve again.
Many of them have left Bethlehem to other Countries in the search of their daily bread. Thus threatening the ancient Biblical heritage wood crafts and the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Although this industry depends on simple hand tools, it is maintained as such to preserve the Biblical heritage and the religious significance of the olive tree to the Christian community worldwide. The craftsmen need encouragement in order to keep carving and to teach their Children the extraordinary skills needed to carve olive wood. Thus continuing the ancient Biblical tradition of beautiful
olive wood carvings in the Holy Land.
All our crafts are hand carved from Authentic Holy Land olive wood . Environment friendly, made from the trimmings of the olive trees an essential process which allows a new and healthier growth for the trees. No tree was damaged or destroyed in the process of harvesting the wood.