Steadfast like olives...the olive tree and its relationship with rain
Arabia Weather - In a moment marked by the tranquility of nature and its unique splendor, the olive tree appears as a symbol of steadfastness and constancy throughout the ages. It is a tree that does not bend before the winds of time, but rather remains steadfast like the olive, preserving its breathtaking beauty and wondrous strength. In this context, the wonderful details of the olive’s relationship with rain emerge as a story. Unique, narrated by blessed water drops and the branches of this ancient tree.
The history of the olive tree extends thousands of years, as man has used it since ancient times to extract the precious golden oil. In this context, the olive appears as a safe harbor for wealth and food, but also as a witness to the unique relationship between this sublime tree and rain.
In that good land, where history meets culture, and trees embrace the branches of steadfastness, Palestine oscillates between the embrace of civilization and the beauty of nature. Here, the olive tree stands out as a witness to the great story of steadfastness, where its leaves dance in the language of hope, and its branches tell the story of Palestine in all its aspects.
“Standing like olives,” a title that exudes the spirit of steadfastness and steadfastness, closely linked to the soil of this blessed land. The olive is not just a tree, but rather a symbol of steadfastness and challenge, deriving its strength from the depths of the Palestinian land. It is a story that tells about how nature can bear witness to a long history of resistance and confrontation.
In this short story, we take a quick glimpse into a world in which olives live in all their colors and shapes, and how their beauty and steadfastness reflect the beauty and steadfastness of Palestine. “Standing like olives” is a melody that flutters gently on the horizon of Palestine, telling about the determination of a people that raises its head to the sky, drawing its strength from its roots. Deep in this good land.
The olive tree and its sparkling seeds
It is a tree that always remains green, playing the melody of life on the strings of the seasons of the year. It displays its freshness in the rays of the scorching sun, and maintains its beauty in times of extreme cold. The olive tree acquires its true identity in the fifth year of its life, presents the world with its first fruits, and reaches the peak of its generous production in Forty years, but its beauty and generosity do not end here. It will retain its green luster for hundreds of years afterward.
It is a tree that does not care about wind storms, and stands tall in the face of the challenges of fire and the harshness of rain. It seems to occupy a unique position, as it does not fear anything except the severity of extreme cold. Its height in its wild nature exceeds 12 to 14 meters , but it can be pruned in agriculture to reach its height. To 5-8 metres .
It is the olive tree, and its resilience tells the story of the strength that stems from its deep roots, and its beauty amounts to the enchanting arts of nature.
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Olive branch
The olive branch , a natural masterpiece that shines in the throne of symbols, stems from the roots of our ancient history to blend with the spirit of successive civilizations. The olive tree occupies a venerable place in the hearts of people, as it used to raise its flaming branch Olympicly, indicating the beginning of victory and supremacy, and olive oil was not limited to its role in the kitchen. Not only that, but the bodies of the first athletes were rubbed with it, and its leaves were associated with the symbol of victory.
The olive branch was not only a symbol of strength, but also a witness to peace, wisdom, reconciliation, and harmony throughout the ages. In our modern world, this branch is linked to the idea of peace, as its effects continue throughout the world. The root of this idea goes back to the customs of ancient Greece, where they used to pray For the gods, and they celebrate kings using it. Hence, this idea moved to become an integral part of the cultures of the Mediterranean basin, to become deeply rooted in them, and then this symbolism became closely linked to peace in many cultures of the modern world.
In the field of olive cultivation , current Greece maintains a great legacy, as it is the third largest olive producer in the world, after Spain and Italy, and continues to tell the story of this sublime branch with pride and dedication.
Steadfast like olives
The olive tree , an icon that stands up to attempts to uproot memory and erase history in the land of Palestine, where it is located in the middle of the village of Al-Walja in Bethlehem. It is the largest and oldest olive tree, growing in its bosoms stories of steadfastness and history. Its size reaches 25 meters , while its height reaches about 13 meters , and extends Its shade covers a quarter of a dunam of land, and its olive production exceeds between 500 and 600 kilograms .
In this village lie the origins of olives , and their deep roots extend, and in protecting them stands Salah Abu Ali, its guardian, who sees this tree as more than just a plant. Abu Ali confirms that this ancient tree is considered part of his family, and describes his connection to it as the connection of the soul to the body. Considering it a living symbol of resistance.
The importance of this tree comes from its strong connection to the history of the Palestinians, as its age is estimated at about 5,500 years , and it carries between its branches the details of an ancient life. This tree is located a few meters away from the separation fence, the wall that was built in the middle of the lands of Palestine, and in the shadow of this great tree, hope is formed. And steadfastness, and becomes a symbol of resistance.
The General Director of Extension in the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, Salah al-Din Youssef al-Baba, highlights the importance of olives, which carry a heritage and religious history, and express peace, steadfastness and challenge. At a time when olive trees are the target of attacks, the Ministry continues to organize programs to replant these lands threatened with confiscation, and distributes More than 150,000 trees are distributed annually to farmers, and agricultural festivals are held that carry a message of challenge and resilience.
Symbols of long time... ancient olive trees bear testimonies of thousands of years
The olive tree located in the village of Al-Luja in the Bethlehem Governorate in Palestine is among the oldest olive trees in the world, and Japanese experts estimated its age at about 5,000 years , making it - according to records - the oldest living olive tree on the face of the Earth. This tree is considered not only a station in time, Rather, it is a living symbol of history, plants and science at the same time.
This symbolic tree produces a distinctive quantity of olives, about 500 kilograms per season, and its oil is considered one of the finest types. So much so that the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture chose a special guard to protect it, due to its historical, botanical and scientific value.
In the land of Portugal , the olive tree in the Ibar Peninsula lights up at an age exceeding 3,000 years , while some olive trees in Lebanon, which form the grove of “Noah’s Sisters,” may reach an age exceeding 4,000 to 5,000 years.
The olive heritage in Turkey is no less ancient. In the town of Kirka Agash in southern Turkey, we find an olive tree that is 1656 years old , and some experts believe that its real age may exceed 2018 years.
As for Jordan , it is considered an area where perennial olive trees are widespread. Some scientific studies indicate that Jordan is the cradle of the emergence of a type of olive tree, since the Roman era of the region.
The olive tree and its relationship with rain
The “olive winter” represents an important event in the calendar of life in Palestine, as olive farmers anticipate these rain showers, which are also known as the “ olive winter,” as they consider it a green signal for the beginning of the olive harvest season.
In Palestinian custom, the olive season acquires special importance, as oil and olives are considered a basic pillar in daily life, and this consideration appears in popular proverbs such as “Oil is the pillar of the house.” Preparation for the olive season begins several months before the fruits ripen, as farmers anticipate the ripening date based on the flowering stages and weather conditions during the summer.
With delayed rain this year and unusual weather conditions, farmers have been found in a difficult situation, juggling two difficult choices. Some of them had to start harvesting without waiting for rain, while others waited impatiently, anticipating that the forecast for rain would come true. Farmers prefer to harvest olives after rain, as this makes the harvesting process easier for them and contributes to cleaning the trees of dust.
Hamza Al-Aqrabawi, a researcher in Palestinian folklore, highlights the importance of the olive season in the lives of Palestinian farmers, as he is considered the “father of seasons,” due to the importance of oil and olives in daily life. He points out that there are special rituals for this season, in which farmers depend on the timings of And specific signs, including “the winter of olives.”
In the middle of September, farmers begin to wait for the “olive winter,” which refers to the rain that may occur at this time. This is considered the beginning of preparation for the harvest, as farmers monitor the rain falling and wait for the appropriate time for the harvest.
Despite the importance of waiting for the “olive winter,” Ramez Obaid, director of the Olive Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, points out that the focus should be on when the olives are ripe for harvesting, and not rely entirely on rain falling.
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