Olive tree:

The olive tree is native to the Holy Land where it has been cultivated since ancient times. According to historians, the first olive groves took root in the Holy Land and along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean around 4000 B.C.The olive tree is a slow growing tree, which matures during the first 7 years of its life. It is especially productive through out its life. Growing to heights ranging from 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 meters). Reaching the age of 200 the trunk disappears; shoots develop at the base of the trunk, which eventually grow into a new tree, hence the reputation as the immortal tree.The people of the Holy Land protect the olive trees and refuse to ever cut them down. In the middle of October (harvest season) , the people of the Holy Land pick their olive trees. They squeeze some to produce olive oil and the rest is pickled to provide olives for the rest of the year.The remains of the olives pressed for oil is used to make olive soap. Once the picking is done it’s time for the pruning process to start to prepare the olive trees for the next season.

Olive wood

The pruning process is done using hand saws due to the possibility of damage that can be inflicted upon the holy and sacred olive trees in the event of using electrical or fuel saws.This wood is then collected and stored to dry up and provide the local workers with the olive wood required to continue with the ancient tradition of olive wood carving. The quality and the texture of the olive wood ensures that every carving is unique. This ancient tradition started in Bethlehem 700 years ago. It was taught from the Monks to the locals.

Dimensions

Size: Height x Width x Thickness (cm).