BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Jack Giacaman enjoys telling customers that every day is Christmas in his shop, which features hand-crafted olive-wood Nativity scenes, camels and crosses. But this year ...

As Christmas approaches, the tradition of setting up a nativity scene becomes a cherished activity ... Each nativity set is meticulously carved from olive wood by Christian families in Bethlehem.

On Saturday, Pope Francis unveiled a nativity scene in the Vatican’s Paul VI ... The practice of olive wood carving is a pillar of the community’s economic and cultural identity dating back ...

The Nativity scene unveiled on Saturday ... Carving statues and religious scenes from olive wood has been a pillar of the Holy Land’s economic and cultural identity for centuries.

A Christian businessman from Bethlehem who runs a store that sells hand-carved olive wood Nativity scenes said on a visit to Birmingham this week that tourism in the birthplace of Jesus has dried ...

From the city of the Prince of Peace came a gift of a nativity scene made by artisans. The figures were made of olive wood, the large Star of mother-of-pearl, and other elements with various ...

The tables of scenes are tidily displayed with each nativity self-contained. There are antique olive wood displays, ceramics, metal scenes and even a rubber-ducky Nativity. "We all come from ...

A Nativity scene made by artisans from Bethlehem was ... which he said have deep roots in the area, especially olive wood and mother-of-pearl. The round, almost 10-foot-high installation ...

Ayman Oghanna for NPR Jack Giacaman enjoys telling customers that every day is Christmas in his shop, which features hand-crafted olive-wood Nativity scenes, camels and crosses. But this year ...