Olive Wood Nativity Scene

Olive Wood Nativity Scene

Product number: 44991

Who better qualified to recreate the Nativity scene than the people of Bethlehem – the very place where it all happened, long ago. Hand-carved by skilled craftsmen, our Olive Wood Nativity Scene Sets have years of history in every knot and grain. The olive tree is one of the oldest known cultivated trees; even those growing on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem are fairly recent arrivals at only 2000 years old! Because they’re considered to be holy, local farmers rarely fell olive trees, but once mature, after around 150 years, the trees are pruned annually and it is this wood that is used to make our Nativity Sets.

Once collected from the farmers, it takes another two years to treat and dry the oil-rich wood ready for carving.

The monks of the Crusades brought the art of wood carving to Bethlehem in the 14th century; a tradition that is still handed from generation to generation to this day.

The Bethlehem Star Olive Wood factory was founded in 1971, by our good friend Jamil Hosh, and there, with his team of just 15 skilled craftsmen, our beautiful Nativity Sets are made. Some of Jamil’s workers have been with him since the doors of the factory opened over 30 years ago.

Working as a team, with each person within his particular area of expertise, Jamil’s craftsmen whittle every figure by hand, making each set an original with its own subtle variations. With the emphasis on quality rather than quantity, at peak capacity only 120 sets are crafted in a week. With such care and craftsmanship involved it’s not without good reason that we stress limited availability.

It’s often said that you get what you pay for, and this truly is an heirloom in the making, destined to be enjoyed for many years as it’s passed down through the generations.

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