Give Hope this Holiday: Gifts from Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans
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Time to read 8 min
Creation Amidst Conflict - The Resilient Artisans of Bethlehem
In the hills and olive groves surrounding Bethlehem, a quiet rhythm pulses through the centuries. Hands carve olive wood, shape mother-of-pearl and etch lines of beauty and faith into materials gathered from the land itself. These crafts are deeply tied to the identity of the region. They're not simply products; they're heirlooms of a culture, pieces of living memory shaped by generations who learned their trade at the sides of parents, uncles, aunts and neighbors.
For countless families in and around Bethlehem, these handmade crafts - crosses, necklaces, sculptures, rosaries, ornaments - have provided steady income in a place where opportunities are often scarce. At the heart of keeping these traditions alive stands Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA), a cooperative founded in 2009 with a simple but profound mission: support marginalized craftspeople, preserve cultural heritage and connect Bethlehem’s artisans with the wider world through fair trade.
Today, that mission has never been more urgent.
A Powerful Yet Simple Symbol of Peace
"The dove symbolizes peace and calm in our lives, representing hope and serenity amid turmoil especially in the Christian Palestinian community. Its gentle presence reminds us of the importance of harmony and understanding, encouraging us to foster a peaceful environment for ourselves and our community. Just as the dove flies freely, we aspire to embrace tranquility in our hearts and homes, seeking solutions that promote unity and compassion. This powerful symbol serves as a guiding light, inspiring us to work toward a future filled with love and cooperation, where peace reigns in our daily lives." - Nidal Dakkarat, Dakkarat Workshop, Beit Sahour, Palestine
In and around Bethlehem, artisans continue ancient crafts like olive wood carving in generational family workshops supported by BFTA. As a regional leader in ethical handcraft, the nonprofit fosters sustainable livelihoods and safe work environments that improve the quality of life for artisan communities. They combine a rich Palestinian heritage with modern designs to create meaningful products.
Table of Contents
Amazing Gifts from Artisans in Bethlehem A Powerful Yet Simple Symbol of Peace Inside the Workshops: Crafting Through Conflict Additional Small Items Carrying Enormous Meaning Why Your Purchase from BFTA Matters More Than Ever Reuse, Repurpose + Choose Fair Trade for More Meaningful Shopping The Ten Thousand Villages Difference Be Part of the Good
Yaqoub Al Natsheh, Artisan working in Hand-Blown Glass, Palestine
Meet Yaqoub Al Natsheh and watch him at work. Please enjoy the short video below.
A Heritage Under Threat
Before 2023, the streets of Bethlehem streets hummed with the energy of pilgrims and tourists. Christmas markets overflowed with carved olive wood nativity sets. Workshops stayed busy year-round preparing for Easter tour groups. Mother-of-pearl pendants were purchased as keepsakes by travelers eager to carry a small piece of their journey home.
But since the renewed conflict that erupted in late 2023, Bethlehem’s markets have fallen silent.
Tourism, which was once the economic backbone of the city, has collapsed. Streets that previously welcomed visitors from around the world now stand empty. Workshops that relied on holiday seasons to sustain them for months at a time have seen orders vanish.
Artisans describe realities like these:
- A workshop that once employed 25 artisans now employs 10 and only opens two days a week.
- Families who once relied on Christmas and Easter pilgrim seasons for the bulk of their annual income report losing 70–75% of their earnings.
- Export orders - their only remaining path to income - are delayed, canceled or burdened with new tariffs and trade barriers.
- Unemployment across the Bethlehem region has skyrocketed, leaving families with devastatingly few options.
These losses extend far beyond finances. As workshops in Bethlehem reduce staff, shorten hours or close entirely, the impact ripples across generations. Younger family members may be forced to pursue work outside the craft and ancient skills are at risk of being lost forever.
The crisis threatens not only livelihoods but the very cultural identity of Bethlehem itself.
Inside the Workshops: Crafting Through Conflict
Yet even in the most uncertain months, the artisans of Bethlehem continue to work.
They carve olive wood rescued from fallen branches or trimmed from ancient trees, an environmentally responsible practice passed down through centuries. They shape mother-of-pearl into luminous jewelry, sanding each piece by hand until the surface catches the light in just the right way. They meticulously polish, chisel, engrave and teach apprentices the techniques their ancestors have used for centuries.
Because in Bethlehem, craftsmanship is more than a job.
It is memory. It is identity. It is resilience.
Walk into a BFTA-supported workshop today, and you might still find:
- Carvers shaping pocket-sized crosses designed to comfort people around the world.
- Artisans working by the glow of sputtering lights during electricity outages.
- Mothers carving early in the morning while children sleep so they can contribute to household income while still caring for their families.
- Masters teaching younger apprentices because they know the only way for the craft to survive is for someone else to learn it.
These artisans continue creating even when the world around them feels uncertain, even when orders are slow or nonexistent, even when hope feels fragile.
An artisan in Bethlehem adds the intricate final touches to a ceramic piece.
Additional Small Items Carrying Enormous Meaning
Among the handcrafted pieces BFTA artisans create for Ten Thousand Villages are two deeply symbolic items:
Mother of Pearl Heart Pendant Necklace
Hand-carved, hand-polished, and suspended on a pure silver chain, this heart-shaped pendant glows with natural iridescence. Each one reflects generations of skill, an elegant reminder of compassion, connection and the artisans who rely on every sale to support their families.
Duea Olive Wood Pocket Prayer Cross
Warm to the touch, smooth in the hand and carved from pruned olive branches, this pocket cross offers comfort to many who carry it. Each cross represents the long tradition of olive wood carving in Bethlehem, where artisans use sustainable materials and centuries-old techniques to craft objects of faith and meaning.
These pieces may be small, but their impact is enormous. Every purchase provides tangible support at a time when the artisans of Bethlehem and the surrounding region need it most.
Why Your Purchase from BFTA Matters More Than Ever
When you choose a handcrafted item from Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, you do so much more than buy a beautiful product.
1. You keep workshops open. Your purchase provides wages in a time when local income has all but disappeared. For many families, a single international sale can mean food on the table or school fees paid.
2. You protect an endangered cultural tradition. Crafting with olive wood and mother-of-pearl is a heritage shaped over centuries. Your purchase helps ensure those skills don’t vanish with the current generation.
3. You uphold fair trade during a crisis. Fair trade guarantees safe working conditions, reliable pay and dignity, vital protections at a time when instability in and around Bethlehem makes everything more precarious.
4. You offer hope and solidarity. When someone gives or wears a handmade piece from Bethlehem, they carry a story of resilience and beauty. They remind the artisans that the world still sees them, values them and believes in their future.
A Call to Conscious Gifting
This year, perhaps more than any year before, handcrafted gifts from Bethlehem hold extraordinary meaning.
Whether you choose a mother-of-pearl necklace, an olive wood prayer cross or any piece from our collection of amazing gifts crafted by Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, your purchase becomes part of a larger story. It helps keep workshops open. It sustains families through hardship. It protects a fragile heritage under threat.
Most importantly, it sends a message that stretches across borders and through difficult times:
You are not forgotten. Your work matters.
In a season when gifts are exchanged to express love, comfort and connection, choosing something handcrafted in Bethlehem is a powerful act of compassion.
It carries hope from your hands to theirs.
Browse our selection of incredible handcrafted items from other artisans in the region including:
Quantities Limited + Sell Out Quickly. Check back soon if your favorite is currently Out of Stock.
A ceramics artisan crafts a design at his shop in Bethlehem.
Summary: A Living Heritage Sustained by Hope
For generations, artisans in Bethlehem have earned a living and preserved their cultural identity through olive wood carving, mother-of-pearl artistry, glass blowing and other heritage craft. Today, amid economic collapse and ongoing conflict, that heritage is under profound threat. Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans continues to support makers who carve, polish and create through uncertainty, sustaining families, protecting ancient skills and offering resilience in the hardest of times. When you choose a handcrafted piece from Bethlehem, you do more than shop fair trade. You help keep workshops open, safeguard a living tradition and carry a message of hope, dignity and solidarity across borders.
Fair Trade is more than just an ethical shopping choice. It’s a commitment to:
- Equity: Artisans are paid fairly for their time and skill, not pennies for hours of labor.
- Sustainability: Natural and recycled materials are used in ways that respect the earth.
- Community Impact: Fair Trade cooperatives often invest in education, healthcare and infrastructure, helping entire communities thrive.
- Preservation of Culture: Every handmade piece carries forward traditions passed down through generations.
When you choose Fair Trade, you’re not just buying a product,
you’re standing up for people and planet.
Reuse, Repurpose + Choose Fair Trade for More Meaningful Shopping
The Ten Thousand Villages Difference
Every one of the items we offer is a portal into a world of ethical artistry. But their significance extends beyond their materials and makers.
It means artisans are paid fairly for their labor and respected for their skills. It means that materials are sourced sustainably, communities are supported holistically and the environment is treated with reverence.
It means that you, the shopper, become part of a value chain rooted in justice.
What are Fair Wages?
Artisans earn a living income, not just minimum wage.
What are Safe Working Conditions?
Makers are protected from exploitation and unsafe labor environments.
How does Fair Trade empower artisans?
Women and marginalized groups gain access to leadership and financial independence.
What is Sustainability?
An emphasis on upcycling, natural materials and low-waste processes that reduce the ecological footprint.
What is Cultural Preservation?
Traditional techniques are maintained and celebrated, not erased.
When you choose to support artisans through organizations like Ten Thousand Villages, you’re not just buying a product, you’re investing in people. You’re helping families send children to school, communities gain access to healthcare and legacy skills survive and thrive in the modern world.
As we look forward to celebrating 80 years of fair trade, we invite you to join us and #LiveLifeFair.
Be Part of the Good
If you're inspired by the stories behind these products, there are many ways to support this movement:
- Shop Mindfully: Look for the Fair Trade Federation or World Fair Trade Organization logos. Sites like Ten Thousand Villages make it easy to shop by product, artisan group/country or material.
- Share Their Stories: The more people learn about fair trade, the more impact we can create. Share blog posts, artisan bios and product stories on social media.
- Gift with Intention: Whether it’s a birthday, holiday or just-because gift, choose handcrafted items that carry meaning and impact.
- Advocate for Ethical Brands: Let your favorite retailers know that sustainability and fair wages matter to you.
Denise Brossman
Copywriter, Editor and Content Manager
Featured Products
Carved Olive Wood Nativity
$225.00