We understand the importance of faith and family, and that is a core value that we apply to every aspect of our business. We started the Holy Land Market as a family business in 2001, and have grown as a company and family since then. As a family of strong faith, our primary goal when starting out was to support the locals in the Holy Land, and that’s still our main focus today.

We’re proud to offer the largest collection of authentic items from the Holy Land to customers like you. Our items are handmade by only the most experienced artisans in various cities. They understand the importance of crafting every item with care and love.

Our core values are focused on family and our faith, and those principles shape every aspect of our business. In fact, Holy Land Market was started as a family business more than twenty years ago, and it remains a family business to this day. We started Holy Land Market with one important goal in mind-- to be the Christian standard in the Holy Land-- a goal we still strive for.

The tradition of the nativity scene dates back to 1223, when St. Francis of Assisi created the very first nativity set in order to teach people about the true meaning of Christmas.

St. Francis believed that people had become too focused on the materialistic aspects of Christmas – wearing nice clothes, eating good food, and exchanging gifts. He thought that people did not realize the significance of the event they were celebrating. St. Francis decided to recreate the birth of Jesus Christ, so that people could see what it is they were actually celebrating.

The recreation was so impactful that people started singing hymns and psalms of praise. St. Francis was moved to tears as he described the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Ever since then, the tradition of recreating the Nativity scene has been an integral part of Christmas celebrations all over the world.

Olive Wood Nativity Sets & Figures

The nativity scene depicts the incredible story of the birth of Jesus Christ. They are usually displayed during the Christmas season. In addition to being a religious symbol, they also serve as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

A nativity set consists of figurines that represent the characters in the biblical account of the Saviors birth in the manger. All sets include the baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Joseph, while some are larger and include the Three Wise Men, an angel or two, and various farm animals, such as sheep, cows, donkeys, etc. There may also be a stable with hay and the Star of Bethlehem.

What Is A Nativity Figure?

A nativity figure is a small figurine representing one of the Biblical characters mentioned above. The figurines may have clothes, jewelry, gifts, crowns or even a shepherd hook. Nativity sets and figures can be made of many different materials, but Holy Land Market offers beautiful, hand-carved ones made of olive wood.

What Is A Nativity Scene Set?

The three main characters in the traditional nativity scene are the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus Christ, who represent the holy family. Other familiar characters include shepherds, angels, kings, the Three Wise Men, and farm animals. The nativity scene has been used for over eight centuries to depict the joyous event that is the cornerstone of Christianity.

Recreating the nativity scene allows us to relive the glorious moment of the birth of Baby Jesus. It helps us understand that He is the source of all that is good in the world. It also shows that the Lord loved and cared about his creations so much that he lowered Himself to our level, became one of us, lived among us in flesh and blood, and sacrificed Himself for our sins.

The nativity scene allows us to realize the importance of humility and self-denial. The Lord did not choose to rule over the world. Instead, He chose to live among the poorest of the poor and showered His mercy upon those who needed it the most.

How Do You Display Wooden Nativity Sets?

A nativity set or manger scene is often displayed on a flat surface such as a tabletop, desk, window ledge, or even the back of a piano. When placing the nativity set, it is essential to place it on a level surface so the pieces do not fall over.

There are no real rules to displaying a wood nativity scene; many families have their own traditions. Some put them up weeks before Christmas, while some wait until everyone is together and set them up on Christmas Eve.

Traditionally, Christians use nativities made of olive wood to recreate the birth of Christ. The olive tree is described in the Bible as a symbol of peace, prosperity, and fertility. Also, since Jesus was a carpenter by profession, it is widely believed that He must have worked with olive wood, which was abundantly available in the Holy Land at the time. Most importantly, it is believed that Christ prayed under an olive tree before He was crucified. This is why olive wood nativities – or any ornaments made of olive wood for that matter – are considered sacred by Christians.

One of the most joyful aspects of setting up the nativity scene is that the whole family can take part in it. Grandparents and parents can teach the young ones how the nativity set should be assembled and explain the significance of the figurines placed in the set. It is a wonderful way to bond over the story of the Savior’s birth.