Wooden Camel from the Holy Land

My camel today is a wooden ornament that could be placed on my Christmas tree.

This ornament is one of a dozen or so carved wooden ornaments that I found in a shop in Bethlehem.  There were others that are reminders of the Nativity story - a star, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, the baby Jesus in a manger, the Magi and their camels.

Bethlehem is a Palestinian town south of Jerusalem.  It is the biblical birthplace of Jesus.  

The birthplace is marked by an inlaid silver star in a grotto under the Church of the Nativity.  There are a number of souvenir shops close to Manger Square where one can find items that tell the Nativity story.

Olive wood carvings are some of the most popular things to buy in Bethlehem to take home as a souvenir.  These intricate carvings are made from the trimmings of the olive trees.  Olive trees need to be pruned each year to keep the plant healthy and to produce better crops.  Instead of just letting them rot, the olive wood branches are dried and local craftsmen carve them into popular Bethlehem souvenirs.

Historians believe olive wood was first carved in Bethlehem by monks in the fourth century after the construction of the Church of the Nativity.  

What is special about olive wood?  Olive wood has a rich and colourful appearance.  Structurally the wood has contrasting brown lines and yellow streaks of sapwood.  The surface of the olive wood can also be easily polished making it perfect for use in decorative objects.  

I like my tiny carved wooden camel.  The grain in the wood makes my camel unique.

I share other stories about my travels to places in the Holy Land in my book Travelling Tuesdays.  Be sure and grab an autographed copy of my book today.

# living life abundantly  # published author