OUR STORY
ABOUT
Some years ago we were posted to Jerusalem which is only a few miles from Bethlehem in Palestine. With a foreign passport, I was able to cross the checkpoints relatively easily and often visited Suzan who was in her early days of setting up Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans.
Many things surprised me in Palestine and Israel, but on a local level, it seemed especially strange that no-one had tapped into their historic tradition of glassblowing to make Christmas decorations.
I was pretty sure overseas buyers would appreciate genuine glass decorations from Bethlehem and I knew local artisans desperately needed more work so they could support their families. That has become much more urgent recently, now that so few tourists are visiting the region.
Right from the beginning we have tried to provide ongoing income for workers. We have achieved this by changing our designs every year so that our many loyal customers can commemorate each season by adding to their Bethlehem Baubles collection. We are now selling thousands of bauble boxes every year and as you will guess, more baubles = more jobs which is the whole purpose of this venture!
We started trading in 2016 and now have an established routine for production and sales and very excited this year to be opening up in the USA.
Our simple vision - to sell as many decorations as possible and create more jobs!
Thank you for helping us and best wishes to you all.
Ros Pollock, Founder
Suzan Sahori, BFTA (left) and Ros Pollock, Founder (right)
PACKAGING
In the early days, we faced many challenges not least with packaging. It’s amazing how something so simple can be quite complex to get right. Initial breakages soon became a thing of the past with our new box design that ensures the safe arrival of each bauble. This improvement has been a great success. Shops love how easily the boxes can be displayed and our customers (and us!) have confidence in shipping them and storing all the baubles safely.
GLASS BLOWING
The glass factories in Hebron have been working for centuries. Blowing glass is is hot work - especially during the summer months and requires great skill. Our artisans make it look so easy!
Most of the materials used are recycled – we are pleased about that. Old bottles and window panes are all smashed up to make our decorations which are heavier than other Christmas decorations – they even bounce on carpet!
GLASS PAINTING
Our Christian ladies are delighted to work from home, painting designs on our baubles, bells and peace lights while looking after the children. Jobs are few and far between so they are very grateful for the income.
YOUR HELP
Over the years, we have gathered together some wonderful supporters who are passionate about helping Palestine. With their support, we will keep expanding our reach across the UK, USA and Europe, knowing that every bauble we sell makes a difference to the lives of both Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities in Palestine.
BFTA
We owe our success to our dear friend Suzan Sahori and her incredible team at Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans. Their dedication and hard work in managing the workers and logistics have been instrumental in making this project a success.
We are also grateful for the support of our trade suppliers, many of whom have been with us for years. Their beautiful shops help market Bethlehem Baubles and broaden our audience.
LOGISTICS
As much as possible, we strive to have everything made in Palestine. Our leaflets and boxes are printed there, and Bethlehem Express handles the shipping logistics through Israel.
OUR TEAM
We focus on telling everyone who will listen about Bethlehem Baubles! We attend a few fairs and trade shows in the lead up to Christmas but rely heavily on goodwill and word of mouth - that's your job! In Utah, we have our excellent team at Drive Fulfillment who pack and ship all our online sales – they do a fantastic job in the lead up to Christmas which gets a bit manic! Together, we form a committed and enthusiastic team with a common goal of selling these small Christmas decorations all around the world and by doing so, supporting the people who live where the story of Christmas begins.
Let customers speak for us
Lovely baubles for a worthwhile cause. Bought a Xmas bauble which is also lovely.
As always these wonderful baubles are the result of peoples working together show their amazing strength and determination to bring us such beautiful things and a breath of hope in our troubled world.
We support and endorse fully the wonderful baubles made in hope of peace and collaboration. They are absolutely stunning and the service is brilliant. Thank you x
The baubles are beautiful! Very well wrapped, quick delivery and absolutely gorgeous. I highly recommend this very important enterprise. Thank you.
Gifted one to some special friends who like me really appreciate the concept of cooperation & love between all communities. They arrived in a very soon after ordering, extremely well prepared. Thank you 🙏
Bought this for my just born granddaughter. A legacy of peace, to reassure her of the goodness in the world.
Delicate & lovely
the team did a fantastic job they produce wonderful baubles and they god here in super quick time. Thank you everyone.
Ordered several baubles - a bell, 3 peace lights with dove outlined. One of the peace lights arrived with a crack in the base - but was replaced without a quibble and promptly - also the bell was ordered using the USA website and it worked a treat. I love what these glass baubles and lights stand for - PEACE - please support this worthy cause
They were beautiful and those of us who now have them wonder at the artistry as well as the story behind the making of them.
Amazing quality. Very Happy with the Tealight.
I had purchased 2 Baubles in 2025, both were of a high Standard.
This delicate blue glass bauble is exquisite and worth every penny. It was a perfect gift for a special friend. She so loves it. And at Christmas its links to the birthplace of Christ makes it so much more meaningful, Palestine is in our hearts at every moment.........................
It's beautiful and the perfect gift
I was so happy when my order of plum bauble arrived in the post - it’s so beautiful and well made. I was also very impressed by the fast delivery service - I ordered it on Thursday and it arrived on the following Monday! In their home page, under ‘Our Story’ section it says this project is not political or spiritual. However, their glass ornaments are “hand blown by Muslims, painted by Christians and shipped by Israel” touched me deeply as a Christian praying daily for world peace, knowing this project are bringing these people together, working together really gives me hope for the future and that is the reason I’ve decided to support this project.
I ordered a blue bell for my friend, she put up on her Christmas tree and it was absolutely magical. I love that it’s from Bethlehem, Palestine the birthplace of Christianity. I don’t celebrate Christmas but my friend does and was very happy with the bell.
Partners With
