Blogs

First Communion and Baptism Gifts from the Holy Land
The best First Communion and Baptism gifts are lasting Christian keepsakes a child can grow up with: a hand carved olive wood cross or crucifix, an olive wood rosary, a decade bracelet, a small standing statue, or a guardian angel piece from the Holy Land. Choose something genuine from Bethlehem so the gift carries both faith and a true connection to the land of Jesus. A Baptism or First Communion is a once in a lifetime moment, and the right gift can stay with a child for the rest of... Read more...
Crucifix Buying Guide: Types, Sizes and How to Choose
To choose a crucifix, decide first where it will go, a wall, an altar, a bedside or a pocket, then pick the size and style to match. Look for one carved from genuine Holy Land olive wood by a Bethlehem workshop, check the corpus detail and the hanging or standing base, and make sure the seller can tell you who made it and where. A well made olive wood crucifix is meant to last for generations. A crucifix is one of the most meaningful pieces a Christian family can own,... Read more...
How to Care for Olive Wood: Cleaning, Oiling and Lasting Generations
To care for olive wood, dust it with a soft dry cloth, keep it away from direct heat, water and long sun, and once or twice a year rub in a little olive oil or natural wood oil to feed the grain. Never soak olive wood or put it in a dishwasher. Cared for this way, a Holy Land olive wood piece will last for generations. Olive wood is one of the hardest and longest living woods in the world, which is why Christian families in Bethlehem have carved it... Read more...
Where to Buy Authentic Holy Land Christian Gifts
The best place to buy authentic Holy Land Christian gifts is directly from a workshop in Bethlehem that carves the pieces by hand, so you know the olive wood is genuine and the artisan families are paid fairly. Bethlehem Handicrafts carves its crosses, rosaries, Nativity sets and statues in Bethlehem and ships them straight to homes across the United States, which keeps the craft true to its source. Holy Land gifts are treasured because they come from the land of Jesus and support the Christian families who still carve there.... Read more...
Holy Land Statues and Virgin Mary Carvings: A Guide
Holy Land statues are hand carved figures of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the Holy Family and the saints, made from olive wood that grows around Bethlehem. A Virgin Mary carving is one of the most loved of these pieces, showing Mary in prayer, holding the Christ child, or as Our Lady of many traditions, and it is kept in homes and prayer corners as a sign of faith and devotion. One favorite is our Our Lady of Guadalupe statue, hand carved in Bethlehem olive wood and treasured by devotees of... Read more...
Olive Wood Nativity Sets: A Holy Land Buyer's Guide
An olive wood Nativity set is a hand carved depiction of the birth of Jesus, made from the wood of olive trees that grow in the Holy Land around Bethlehem, the very town where the Nativity took place. A traditional set includes the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, often joined by the three wise men, shepherds, an angel and animals gathered around the manger. Bethlehem Handicrafts has carved Nativity sets by hand in Bethlehem and shipped them to Christian homes across America since 2000. This guide... Read more...
How to Tell If Olive Wood Is Authentic and Made in Bethlehem
You can tell that olive wood is authentic and made in Bethlehem by its warm golden color, its flowing grain that is different in every piece, its faint natural scent, and its solid weight. The surest sign of all is where it comes from: genuine Holy Land olive wood is carved by Christian families in Bethlehem and bought directly from those workshops. Because olive wood from the Holy Land is treasured, some sellers pass off stained hardwood or factory made copies as the real thing. Bethlehem Handicrafts has carved genuine... Read more...
Three Kings Day Gift Guide: Meaningful Christian Gifts
Three Kings Day, also called the Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6 and remembers the visit of the three wise men, or Magi, who brought gifts to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. In many Christian and Hispanic homes it is a day of gift giving, and meaningful gifts include Nativity sets, olive wood crosses, rosaries and other Holy Land keepsakes from the very town where the Magi knelt. Bethlehem Handicrafts hand carves Holy Land gifts in Bethlehem, the city at the heart of the Three Kings story. This guide explains... Read more...
Christian Bracelets from the Holy Land: Meaning and Styles
Christian bracelets from the Holy Land are wearable signs of faith made in and around Bethlehem, often from olive wood beads, Jerusalem cross charms or knotted cord. People wear them as a daily reminder of prayer, as a witness of their faith, and as a keepsake from the land where Jesus walked. Bethlehem Handicrafts makes Christian bracelets by hand in Bethlehem and has shipped them to homes across the United States since 2000. This guide explains the main styles, their meaning, and how to pick one for yourself or as... Read more...
Holy Land Olive Wood Rosaries: Types, Meaning and How to Choose
A Holy Land olive wood rosary is a prayer rosary whose beads are carved from olive wood grown in the Holy Land, usually around Bethlehem. Catholics and other Christians choose these rosaries because the beads come from the land of Jesus, feel warm and light in the hand, and grow smoother and richer with years of prayer. Bethlehem Handicrafts has strung olive wood rosaries by hand in Bethlehem since 2000. This guide explains the parts of a rosary, why olive wood is so loved for prayer, and how to choose... Read more...
Olive Wood Crosses and Christian Wooden Art: A Buyer's Guide
Olive wood crosses and Christian wooden art are religious pieces carved from the wood of olive trees that grow in the Holy Land, mainly around Bethlehem. Olive wood is chosen because it is strong, beautifully grained and deeply rooted in Scripture, and because carving it has been a Christian craft in Bethlehem for many generations. At Bethlehem Handicrafts every cross, statue and wall piece is hand carved by Christian families in Bethlehem and has been trusted in American homes since 2000. This guide explains what makes Holy Land olive wood... Read more...
What Is a Jerusalem Cross? Meaning, History and Symbolism
The Jerusalem Cross is a Christian symbol made of one large central cross surrounded by four smaller crosses, one in each corner. It is also called the Crusaders Cross or the Five Fold Cross. The five crosses together are most often understood to represent the five wounds of Christ, while the central cross stands for Christ himself and the four smaller crosses stand for the four Gospels carried to the four corners of the earth. For families who treasure the Holy Land, the Jerusalem Cross is one of the most... Read more...