The Olive Tree

During the second half of October until the end of November, the annual olive harvest season occurs, one of the most important harvest seasons for the livelihood of Palestinian peasants.

  Traditionally in Palestine, harvesting the olive trees was a joyous time. All the family members leave school and work and take to the hills and valleys where their olive trees are abundant, and work in olive-picking from dawn till dusk, day after day. Children, parents, and grandparents, each have a role to play. Relatives and friends offer a helping hand. Schools and universities take a long weekend holiday towards the end of the month of October to help in picking olives. The younger ones climb the tree to pick the olives and throw them on the large mat placed beneath the tree.

Some trees have been producing olives from the times of Jesus, Omar Ben Al-Khatab, Salah Eddin, and Napoleon Bonaparte.   These ancient olive groves have provided livelihoods for generations.  There are approximately 12 million olive trees in Palestine.  The olive tree is often called “the Blessed Tree”  (el shajarah el mubarakah).

In Palestine it is still common to light churches and shrines with olive oil and not any other kind of oil, even with the invention of electricity and use of electric bulbs. Babies, too, are rubbed with oil and salt to make them strong. Old people often begin the day by drinking a small cupful of olive oil because of its healthy attribute of giving strength and energy.

Many products are extracted from the olive tree: among them are olives, olive oil, olive wood, and olive-based soap.

The olive tree has great importance for palestinian culture and identity. The olive tree also symbolizes steadfatness because it weathers all kinds of climate. The olive tree is known around the world for its symbolism of peace and tranquility. The expression ” to hold out an olive branch” means to seek harmony and peace.