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Peace Symbols - Olive Branches
By peace | May 15, 2006
The olive tree is native to the Holy Land where it has been cultivated since ancient times. According to historians, the first olive groves took root in the Holy Land and along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean around 4,000 B.C.
The olive tree is a slow growing tree which fills during the first 7 years of it’s life. It is especially productive thought out her life. Growing to heights ranging from 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 meters),
Reaching the age of 200 the trunk disappears, shoots develop at the base of the trunk which eventually grow into a new tree, hence the reputation as the immortal tree.
Between April and June a multitude of small, white perfumed flowers appear in groups under the preceding year’s leaves. They only last a few weeks. One olive is born for about 20 flowers. Normally the first flowering only takes place after about 8 years.
The Olive Tree has both sentimental and religious significance to all nations and all religions. In the Old Testament, olive oil was used to anoint prophets and kings, and to light the lamps at the temple of Jerusalem, the house of God. For nourishment, healing, cleansing, lighting, and symbolic purposes, olive oil was important.
Later in the New Testament, Jesus Christ was described as the “Anointed One” the Messiah, Christians were called Nozreem or Masseheen, which in Aramic and Arabic means anointed with olive oil. Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan who used oil for healing.
In the Book of Gen
esis the dove sent out from the ark by Noah returned with an olive branch (Genesis 8:11). Here it became the great symbol of peace, indicating the end of God’s anger.
The olive Tree plays a significant role in the life of the people of the Holy Land from the olive tree the people of the Holy Land get their olives and from the olives the source of Jared olives and olive oil from the olive oil they make their soap and from the trimming of the olive tree the olive wood artists make their arts and from the left over they light fire to cook and for heat. The wood shavings are given to the animal farmers for use to put on the floors of their farms to keep it clean. And these days due to the rareness of olive wood the people of the Holy Land invented a new heaters that work with the wood shavings
Since the days of Noah, the olive branch has been a symbol of peace and goodwill. Unfortunately, in recent years, the war in the Holy Land has often led to the uprooting of olive tree orchards more than 50,000 olive trees have been uprooted and destroyed, the sole source of income for many farmers. The olive tree have traditionally symbolized the spirit of the Holy Land farmers and their connection to the Holy land a connection that has remained strong, despite years of war and political unrest.
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