About Star of Bethlehem Handicrafts – Star of Bethlehem Hand Crafts

Superior Richness & Texture

The oldest olive trees in the Holy Land are located in the cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The older the olive tree the more grains and textures in it’s wood.

The olive tree has been highly regarded since ancient times. The olive tree features wood with distinctive grains. By nature, it is heavy, dense, and durable. Historians say the first olive groves took root in the Holy Land and the coast of the eastern Mediterranean around 4,000 B.C.

According to the Bible, it is believed that Jesus prayed underneath an olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper. This sacred tree is still in existence today and the Bible repeatedly refers to the olive tree as a symbol of peace, fertility, and prosperity. In the story of Noah’s Ark, a branch from an Olive Tree was brought back to the Ark by Noah’s Dove symbolizing peace. On Palm Sunday, pilgrims carry Olive Wood branches commemorating the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.

Each hand-carved piece is extraordinarily unique. The varying grains in olive wood add depth and warmth. Olive trees must be at least 150 years old before their wood can be cultivated. Some olive trees are over 1000 years old. The olive tree is a blessed tree in the Holy book and grew in Gethsemane and around Jerusalem where Jesus walked.

HISTORY

About 400 years ago Franciscan monks began teaching residents of Bethlehem the art of carving Holy Land Olive wood. Over the centuries the art of olive wood carving has been perfected, passed down from generation to generation.

Today modern technology somewhat speeds the process but still, each piece of olive wood is hand-carved by skilled craftsman requiring 6 or 7 years of training to create a quality product. The care and craftsmanship that goes into carving Holy Land Olive wood is obvious when you hold an olive wood carving in your hand and feel the fine grain and see the magnificent detail.

HOW IT IS DONE

Every two years the olive trees are pruned so that they bear fruit. These hand-carved masterpieces are made by Christian craftsman living in Bethlehem. They work with the branches produced by the pruning’s. These beautiful handmade crafts make perfect gifts.

Star of Bethlehem Handicrafts begins with aging the wood for more than two years. We store the wood in hermetically sealed rooms to slow the desiccation process. Our process generates a more refined grain, preventing cracking and illuminating the wood’s natural beauty.

OUR MISSION

We are Christians from the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. We are volunteers sent to the USA by the Bethlehem Catholic Mission to sell the native religious carvings created by the local artisans.

Christians in Bethlehem are rapidly becoming a minority. The locals, who once depended on tourism for their livelihood, are looking for new ways to keep their families rooted in the Holy Land. Fifty years ago, Christians made up 70 percent of Bethlehem’s population; today, only about 15 percent. The Christian population of the entire West Bank – mostly Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic, with Copts, Russian Orthodox, Armenians, and others – is dwindling.

Carving with olive wood is traditional work in Bethlehem, Christian families consider it a main source of income. Olive trees, also known as the Peace Tree, produce the different kinds of olive wood. Our items range from olive wood rosaries to full Nativity sets, angels, Christmas ornaments, crosses, statues, and the Holy Family. They are all handcrafted by the Catholic artisans in Bethlehem.

When you purchase our one of a kind, hand-carved items; you are helping to keep this ancient tradition alive in the Holy Land!

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The highly skilled and trained Holy Land artisans can tell the age of the woods by the volume of its grain and color. We are committed to using our knowledge of the olive tree to create the most unique and one of kind sculptures for our clients.