Mother-of-pearl carving in Bethlehem Mother-of-pearl carving in Bethlehem Mother-of-Pearl carving, a traditional handicraft in Bethlehem, is said to have been brought to the city by Franciscan friars from Italy in the 15th century. Bethlehem's position as an important Christian city has for centuries attracted a constant stream of pilgrims. This generated much local work and income, also for women, including making mother-of-pearl souvenirs. According to Weir, Bethlehem women's employment in the mother-of-pearl industry goes back at least to the seventeenth century. It was noted by Richard Pococke, who travelled there in 1727. Previously, most of the oysters for the mother-of-pearl supply came from the
Pearl of Csaba and Bulgaria. Pearl of Csaba Pearl of Csaba ("Csabagyöngye" in Hungarian) is a white variety of grape. It was created in 1904 by the Hungarian viticulturalist Adolf Stark, presumably by crossing Madeleine Angevine × Muscat Courtillier (= Muscat Précoce de Saumur). Some sources instead state the parent varieties as Bronner x Muscat Ottonel, but this is seen as less likely. The variety's name was taken from the city Békéscsaba, which is also called "Csaba" for short. Pearl of Csaba is primarily used as a table grape. Worldwide cultivation is estimated to be around , and it is primarily found in