Tradition of Nabulsi soap making in Palestine

Inscribed in 2024 (19.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Nablusi is a hand-crafted soap made in Palestine made from three natural, local ingredients: olive oil, water and lye. The practitioners make the soap after the olive harvest, adding their family’s stamp before packaging it and storing it for one year. Most families in Palestine share the tradition, with both men and women taking part in all stages of the production process and children helping their parents cut and pack the soap. A source of income for practicing families, the craft is passed on through hands-on practice in farms, olive presses and within families and small workshops. It is also taught by organizations, featured in movies, and transmitted through social media networks. The use of olive oil reflects people’s strong relation to nature, and many people use their homemade soap as a personal gift for celebrations such as weddings and birthdays. Often, soap makers give soaps to visitors to take home. The element encourages dialogue while connecting family members and communities.