Olive Wood Nativity Scene Set

Olive Wood Nativity Scene Set

Product number: 62156

It just doesn’t feel like a proper Lakeland Christmas if we don’t include our much-loved Olive Wood Nativity Set, so we’re absolutely delighted to welcome it back into our festive range. An heirloom in the making, we’re often told that these Nativity sets go on to become cherished family favourite decorations that are looked forward to every December, and we’re sure that this year's version will earn itself a special place on many a mantelpiece.

Hand-carved in Bethlehem

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 150 years or so, the trees are pruned annually, and it’s this wood that is used to make our Nativity Sets. Once the off-cuts are collected from the farmers, it takes another two years to treat and dry the oil-rich wood ready for carving.

Centuries of tradition

The monks of the Crusades took the art of wood carving to Bethlehem in the 14th century, and it’s a tradition that is still handed from generation to generation to this day. In 1971, the Bethlehem Star Olive Wood factory was founded by our good friend Jamil Hosh, and there, with his very small team of 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 40 years ago.

Limited availability

Working as a team, each person with his own 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 made 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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