About Us

Olivewood and Mother-of-Pearl Handcrafted Gifts from the Holy Land

Holyland-Gifts is dedicated to supporting Christians in the Holy Land.    Olivewood and Mother-of-Pearl gifts are handcrafted by a co-op of ten Christian families living in Bethlehem, West Bank - Israel.    Importation of these unique, handcrafted gift items from Bethlehem to Missouri accounted for more than 95% of the income provided to these Christian craftsmen and their families from  2001-2007.

In 2001, Holyland-Gifts began in St. Louis, Missouri as a fundraiser for area churches.    All items are packaged into a kit and shipped to churches for fundraiser/mission projects.  Churches keep 25% of the total sales.

In 2003, www.Holyland-Gifts.com was established to further the sale of Olivewood and Mother-of-Pearl items throughout the United States, expanding our financial support to Christians in the Holy Land.

www.Holyland-Gifts.com offers a variety of Olivewood and Mother-of-Pearl pieces including: nativities, ornaments, crosses, statues, rosaries, necklaces and jewelry.

OLIVEWOOD CARVINGS - The Olivewood found in this website is all handcrafted by Christians living in Bethlehem.    The Olive Tree is prominent in the life of both Biblical and Christian families in Bethlehem.    For centuries the Olivewood tree has provided food, oil, soap and it continues to be significant for religious purposes.    The Olivewood tree is also remembered as the one of Jesus' crucifixion.    Each handcrafted gift item is made in Bethlehem, West Bank.    Today, many Christian families rely on the wood as a way to create beautiful handcrafted pieces as Christian symbols.

WHITE MOTHER-OF-PEARL JEWELRY - The Mother of Pearl shell is imported from Australia and then cut and carved by Christian craftsmen.    The Mother-of-Pearl industry was introduced in Bethlehem by the Crusaders, sometime about the 12th century.    In the Christian community of Bethlehem this unusual handicraft art has been passed from father to son for generations.    The tools used are very primitive; a coping saw, small chisel, and a file.    Many of the pieces of jewelry require as many as 1,000 strokes before completion.

These unique items provide the perfect gift for Confirmation, Easter, Baptism, Christmas, Birthday, Wedding, Anniversary, Graduation or any time.

Gifts include:  praying hands, the Holy Family, rosary beads, crosses, crucifixes, the Last Supper, nativities, necklaces, etc.

Thank you for visiting www.HolyLand-Gifts.com.