The Olive Wood:
The olive tree is traditionally a symbol of peace and health. Noah's dove is said to have returned from a search for dry land with an olive branch in its beak. Jesus prayed near an olive tree in Gethsemane, near Jerusalem (Matthew 26:36) after the Last Supper. According to tradition, this tree still exists today, and is visited by thousands of tourists annually. Historically, olive oil has been used to anoint followers, priests, prophets, and kings in religious ceremonies, and is purported to be a healthy addition to one's diet.
The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean region, is an evergreen, and grows to a height of 50 feet. It has a gnarled, branching look, and can be quite attractive and distinctive. Evidence from archeology suggests that olive trees were grown around 2,500 B.C. They were, and still are today, a major symbol of Christian tradition.
Olive wood carvings have a long artisan history, and are traditionally given to family and friends as gifts of peace and love, particularly during the holiday season. Each item is unique because it is hand crafted from individual cuts of wood.Olive wood crosses, crucifixes and statues are wonderful, inexpensive holiday
Olive trees in Palestine: The story of a drop
Its fruits gloss under the warm sunshine of April, hiding beneath the evergreen leaves, its fragrant cream-colored flowers and graceful appearance is a symbol of peace, prosperity, dignity and love. A symbol of life, tradition and legacy ...a symbol of Palestine. With each of its sturdy stems and fresh green leaves that burst their way towards the bright blue sky, comes a story of life ...a story of Palestine.
For thousands of years our ancestors have been passing on this sacred tree, the Palestinian olive tree, with all that it symbolizes, to their children and grandchildren. Many stories were told under its shade, and perhaps one can indulge in its old grayish branching pattern to look for truths about life. Palestinians therefore grant special attention and admiration to their beloved olive tree, for it lives within their psyche and represents that sacred figure that was mentioned in all religious books, extolled by poets, and represented by artists in various ways throughout history.
All of this attention within its symbolic context pushed Palestinians to widely plant it. Palestinians plant this tree in all areas. It is planted from heights that reach up to 900m all the way down to the Jordan Valley at 250m below sea level. In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have planted ten million trees over 898,262 dunums (around 225,000 acres). This area represents 54% of the total planted agricultural land and the trees constitute about 80% of the total rain-fed productive trees in Palestine. As for the Gaza Strip, about 22,452 dunums have been planted with olive trees. Palestinians continue to plant around 10,000 new olive trees each year in the West Bank where most of the new plants are from the oil-producing variety and 25% of their output ends upas olive oil.
The olive tree is known to have important social and economic impacts during its harvest season, with its ability to gather a large number of working hands, especially among women, when Palestinia families including children, women, men, students and the elderly all gather in their olive groves to harvest their trees while bringing alive Palestinian traditions and folklore with cultural evenings and activities.
Olive Wood History:
Olive wood is known to be the best kind of wood for creating simple sculptures and shapes, such as gifts and souvenirs which are appreciated by tourists and foreigners visiting the Holy Land. Its wood is also widely used as a main heat source in homes throughout the Palestinian territories. From (Hitham I. Kayali, This Week in Palestine, Nov 4, 2007)
Olive wood carvings 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.Production process
The process of producing an olive wood craft requires labor intensity and consists of many stages, often involving the work of multiple artisans. Drilling machines are used initially to attain the rough outline of the intended craft. It accounts for 15% of the process, although it eliminates some of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of the carving. Next the piece is passed onto a skilled artisan who transforms the rough outline into a finished product by chiseling the details. Finally, the finished item must be sanded down and polished, then coated with olive wax to give the object a "natural shine" and ensure its longevity. Depending on what the particular product is, the process could take up to 45 days. Most professional artisans go through six to seven years of training.
Olive wood is used because it is easier to carve than other woods and could be done accurately with simple hand tools. Also, it has a diverse variety of natural color and tonal depth, due to the annual structure. It is also resistant to decay and receptive to a number of surfacing treatments.
The olive tree is traditionally a symbol of peace and health. Noah's dove is said to have returned from a search for dry land with an olive branch in its beak. Jesus prayed near an olive tree in Gethsemane, near Jerusalem (Matthew 26:36) after the Last Supper. According to tradition, this tree still exists today, and is visited by thousands of tourists annually. Historically, olive oil has been used to anoint followers, priests, prophets, and kings in religious ceremonies, and is purported to be a healthy addition to one's diet.
The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean region, is an evergreen, and grows to a height of 50 feet. It has a gnarled, branching look, and can be quite attractive and distinctive. Evidence from archeology suggests that olive trees were grown around 2,500 B.C. They were, and still are today, a major symbol of Christian tradition.
Olive wood carvings have a long artisan history, and are traditionally given to family and friends as gifts of peace and love, particularly during the holiday season. Each item is unique because it is hand crafted from individual cuts of wood.Olive wood crosses, crucifixes and statues are wonderful, inexpensive holiday
Olive trees in Palestine: The story of a drop
Its fruits gloss under the warm sunshine of April, hiding beneath the evergreen leaves, its fragrant cream-colored flowers and graceful appearance is a symbol of peace, prosperity, dignity and love. A symbol of life, tradition and legacy ...a symbol of Palestine. With each of its sturdy stems and fresh green leaves that burst their way towards the bright blue sky, comes a story of life ...a story of Palestine.
For thousands of years our ancestors have been passing on this sacred tree, the Palestinian olive tree, with all that it symbolizes, to their children and grandchildren. Many stories were told under its shade, and perhaps one can indulge in its old grayish branching pattern to look for truths about life. Palestinians therefore grant special attention and admiration to their beloved olive tree, for it lives within their psyche and represents that sacred figure that was mentioned in all religious books, extolled by poets, and represented by artists in various ways throughout history.
All of this attention within its symbolic context pushed Palestinians to widely plant it. Palestinians plant this tree in all areas. It is planted from heights that reach up to 900m all the way down to the Jordan Valley at 250m below sea level. In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have planted ten million trees over 898,262 dunums (around 225,000 acres). This area represents 54% of the total planted agricultural land and the trees constitute about 80% of the total rain-fed productive trees in Palestine. As for the Gaza Strip, about 22,452 dunums have been planted with olive trees. Palestinians continue to plant around 10,000 new olive trees each year in the West Bank where most of the new plants are from the oil-producing variety and 25% of their output ends upas olive oil.
The olive tree is known to have important social and economic impacts during its harvest season, with its ability to gather a large number of working hands, especially among women, when Palestinia families including children, women, men, students and the elderly all gather in their olive groves to harvest their trees while bringing alive Palestinian traditions and folklore with cultural evenings and activities.
Olive Wood History:
Olive wood is known to be the best kind of wood for creating simple sculptures and shapes, such as gifts and souvenirs which are appreciated by tourists and foreigners visiting the Holy Land. Its wood is also widely used as a main heat source in homes throughout the Palestinian territories. From (Hitham I. Kayali, This Week in Palestine, Nov 4, 2007)
Olive wood carvings 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.Production process
The process of producing an olive wood craft requires labor intensity and consists of many stages, often involving the work of multiple artisans. Drilling machines are used initially to attain the rough outline of the intended craft. It accounts for 15% of the process, although it eliminates some of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of the carving. Next the piece is passed onto a skilled artisan who transforms the rough outline into a finished product by chiseling the details. Finally, the finished item must be sanded down and polished, then coated with olive wax to give the object a "natural shine" and ensure its longevity. Depending on what the particular product is, the process could take up to 45 days. Most professional artisans go through six to seven years of training.
Olive wood is used because it is easier to carve than other woods and could be done accurately with simple hand tools. Also, it has a diverse variety of natural color and tonal depth, due to the annual structure. It is also resistant to decay and receptive to a number of surfacing treatments.