These beautiful wood beads are made from 100% authentic olive wood, by the local Palestinian Christian population in the old city of Bethlehem. Each bead is handmade, just meters away from where tradition says Jesus was born. Many people also refer to these beads as Palestinian rosary beads because of their use in rosary necklaces. For all the environmentally-conscious individuals out there, like ourselves, no need to worry -- the wood for these beads are taken from non-living trees!