You surely already know that the Nativity scenes are among the top products of our art workshop. Nativity Set is a Christmas decoration depicting the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ. Of course, you know very well, that it took its name from the city where, according to tradition, Jesus was born. Accept the invitation to walk around Bethlehem a little, at least virtually. We promise it will be very interesting!
Bethlehem in history
The name Bethlehem contains two Hebrew words: house (Hebrew bet) and bread (Hebrew lechem) and we could translate it as "House of Bread". Although Bethlehem is mainly associated with the birth of Jesus, its rich history goes much deeper into the past.
There is Bethlehem mentioned as the city which the Jewish king David came from in the Old Testament. That’s why Bethlehem is sometimes called the City of David. This is also what the angel who announces the birth of the Savior to the shepherds in Luke's Gospel calls it. But even biblical history places Bethlehem even more in the past! At the northern entrance to Bethlehem, on the site of the former burial ground, according to ancient tradition, there is the tomb of the biblical Rachel - the beloved wife of the patriarch Jacob. Jacob's name was changed to Israel (which in Hebrew means "the one who fought with God") and you can guess from that that it will be a place of great value to all Jews. Rachel's Tomb is the third holiest site in Judaism, but it is also revered by Muslims and Christians.
Bethlehem is located only 8 kilometers from Jerusalem and belongs to the territory of the Palestinian Authority on the West Bank. For the sake of completeness, let us add that the oldest mention of Bethlehem can be found in the Amarna correspondence, which dates from 1350-1330 BC, when the city was inhabited by Canaanites.
Church of the Nativity
The most famous landmark of the city is, of course, the Church of the Nativity, located above the cave in which, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was born. The basilica was built in the first half of the 4th century on the order of Emperor Constantine shortly after his mother St. Helen visited Bethlehem. The cave above which the basilica is built is the oldest continuously used place of worship in Christianity and the Church of the Nativity is the oldest temple in the Holy Land. The place of Jesus' birth is marked by a fourteen-pointed silver star since 1717.
Have you visited Bethlehem yet?
Surely this visit left vivid memories in you. You can also remember them by choosing our beautiful artworks that bring the event of the Savior's birth to life. And if you haven't had the chance to visit this city yet, Nativity Scene from the Choralis Wood Art workshop is the right choice for you.
You can find the entire wooden Nativity sets offer on our website:
Finally, allow us to wish all our customers a wonderful Christmas!
