The town is famous for its craftspeople, who have been carving beautiful objects from local olive wood for many generations. You can find tiny carved birds, nativity figures, jewellery boxes, and chess sets made from the pale, smooth wood. Each piece has a unique swirling grain because every olive tree grows differently.
Bethlehem's market square — Manger Square — is the heart of the town. Around it you find old stone buildings with carved doorways, little coffee shops, and vendors selling strings of colourful dried herbs. On cool evenings families gather in the square, children play, and the smell of grilling corn and za'atar bread drifts through the air.
Every December, Bethlehem fills with visitors from many countries who come for the festive celebrations. The stone square is decorated with lights, choirs sing, and local children perform the dabke folk dance in the open air. It is one of the biggest cultural gatherings in the whole region.