Earth Day Is a Christian Calling
Earth Day has arrived, and at Bethlehem Handicrafts we believe the Earth deserves more than one day of recognition. The Bible is full of beautiful language and theology for celebrating God's creation. Scripture speaks of God's love and care for the world He made, and our role as stewards of the resources He has given us, including our environmental resources.
Caring for creation is a powerful demonstration of our gratitude for God's love and His gift of life.
Sustainable Olive Wood Carving in Bethlehem
At Bethlehem Handicrafts every small action to care for the Earth matters. No living healthy tree is ever uprooted for carving. The Holy Land olive wood industry already faces serious challenges because of the tens of thousands of olive trees constantly destroyed or uprooted by Israel's Separation Wall and settlement infrastructure.
All of our statues are carved from branches that are pruned, which actually extends the productive life of olive trees. Dead or diseased trees are used for larger carvings.
How Long Do Olive Trees Live?
Olive trees can live for a very long time. Some of the oldest olive trees live for over a thousand years. Some of the most famous examples are found in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Church of All Nations at the base of the Mount of Olives, where Christ prayed that He would not be led into temptation immediately before His Passion (Matthew 26:36 to 46). Most olive trees do not live that long, but as trees go, they live comparatively long lives.
The Garden of Gethsemane.
From Olive Tree to Olive Wood Carving
Dead olive trees are used for fuel and for carving material. The trunk and heftier branches of a dead olive tree heat the wood burning stoves of family kitchens and living rooms throughout the Holy Land. In a region with brief but harsh winters, stone and cement homes, and no central heating, fireplaces are a far more worthwhile investment than people from northern climates may realize. Many bakers and restaurants still use wood burning ovens for bread and pizza.
The second purpose, of course, is carpentry and olive wood carving. Wood cannot be used indiscriminately. Only select pieces of wood, once cut and dried, that meet the qualifications of the carver are chosen. Once a piece of wood passes the test, the incredible process of transformation begins.
Hand Carved Olive Wood Masterpieces from Bethlehem
Shop our hand carved olive wood masterpieces and view each sculpture in full 360 degree detail.
Bethlehem Handicrafts is proud to put the Holy Land in your hands with original olive wood carvings, hand crafted by Christian families in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
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