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Nobody ever thinks of a wood as being sacred, but when you look through the history of the Holy land and the goods it produced in trade you'll find that olive wood is featured over and over again. History even suggests that Christ himself may have worked with olive wood when he was a carpenter, before he began the three years of his life that would change the world forever. That legacy lives on in the Holy Land gifts found on the market today. Especially, when the olive wood is hand carved.

Olive Wood

When you're talking about olive wood being used in authentic Holy Land gifts you're usually talking about olive wood from in and around Bethlehem. Today's carpenters laud wood from this part of the world for its beauty, smooth and variant grains and wide variety of colors. Bethlehem's woods come in red and creamy pigments with grain lines in gray, brown and black lines that can create a marbled effect that gives Bethlehem's wood a uniquely gorgeous appearance that's all its own.

Olive Wood in History

Olive wood has its own place in history. The first olive grove was believed to have taken root in the Holy Land around 4,000 B.C. and has since spread throughout the area. The Bible tells us that Christ's prayers on his way to Jerusalem before his crucifixion were made under an olive tree, and while it's never been confirmed there are some who say that they believe that Christ's cross was made of olive wood. Although, the Bible doesn't tell us we'll never know.

For those of you that are interested, the olive tree is sometimes known as the immortal tree. When the tree has seen two centuries come and go, the trunk eventually disappears, new shoots develop at the base and a new tree grows in its place. The olive tree never truly dies; it just carries on to the next generation. For many the rebirth of the olive tree symbolizes the rebirth of Christ himself.

Olive Wood in Today's Holy Land Gifts
The ornate olive wood carvings seen in Holy Land gifts today actually originated when the Franciscan monks came to the Holy Land. At this time the monks taught the people of the Holy Land how to work with the olive wood…along with the exquisite Mother of Pearl inlay that is often used with it. It's said that olive wood may be the more sentimental choice of the craftsmen who make Holy Land gifts, because the tree is completely indigenous to the region (which encompasses the Middle East, Southern Europe and North Africa) and as such adds an immediate authenticity to the crosses, rosaries and in-home accessory items carefully crafted by artisans using its captivating design.

A quick warning to everyone considering purchasing Holy Land gifts made exclusively from olive wood: The wood has a tendency to crack and warp, especially if it wasn't properly seasoned before use. (For those of you unfamiliar with the lingo, that means that the wood was allowed to dry naturally rather than using artificial means. This makes the wood much more stable but can take months to achieve.) Always ask the retailer about the wood's seasoning before making your purchase.

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