Bethlehem

===Embroidery===
{{See also|Palestinian costumes}}
[[File:Bethlehem woman edited.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Woman in traditional Bethlehem costume]]

The women embroiderers of Bethlehem were known for their bridalwear.<ref name="PCA2">{{cite web |title=Palestine costume before 1948: by region |publisher=Palestine Costume Archive |access-date=January 28, 2008 |url=http://www.palestinecostumearchive.org/regional.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020913101705/http%3A//www%2Epalestinecostumearchive%2Eorg/regional%2Ehtm |archive-date= September 13, 2002}}</ref> Bethlehem embroidery was renowned for its "strong overall effect of colors and metallic brilliance."<ref>{{cite book |last=Stillman |first=Yedida Kalfon |title=Palestinian costume and jewelry |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |year=1979 |location=Albuquerque |pages=46 |isbn=978-0-8263-0490-2}}</ref> Less formal dresses were made of indigo fabric with a sleeveless coat (''bisht'') from locally woven wool worn over top. Dresses for special occasions were made of striped silk with winged sleeves with a short ''taqsireh'' jacket known as the Bethlehem jacket. The taqsireh was made of [[velvet]] or [[broadcloth]], usually with heavy embroidery.<ref name=PCA2/>

Bethlehem work was unique in its use of couched gold or silver cord, or silk cord onto the silk, wool, felt or velvet used for the garment, to create stylized floral patterns with free or rounded lines. This technique was used for "royal" [[wedding dress]]es (''thob malak''), taqsirehs and the ''shatwehs'' worn by married women. It has been traced by some to [[Byzantium]], and by others to the formal costumes of the Ottoman Empire's elite. As a Christian village, local women were also exposed to the detailing on church vestments with their heavy embroidery and silver brocade.<ref name=PCA2/><gallery>
File:Bethlehem Dress (Palestinian Thobe).jpg|Bethlehem traditional dress
File:Chest panel from Bethlehem dress (Palestinian Thobe).jpg|Chest panel from Bethlehem dress
File:Embroidery from Bethlehem Dress (Palestinian Thobe).jpg|Embroidery detail
File:Bethlehem Jacket (taqsireh).jpg|''Taqsireh'' jacket embroidered with Palestinian patterns
File:Le musée des traditions populaires (Amman, Jordanie) (24116263437).jpg|''Shatweh'', a headdresses worn by married women
</gallery>