Amish Holiday Traditions
If you have visited Pennsylvania, in particular Lancaster County, you have probably seen quaint Amish folk driving their horse-drawn buggies, or maybe you have purchased their simple furniture and handmade quilts. The Amish are known for their values of humility, quietness and shunning of technology. Today, there are Amish communities in 19 states, with three-fourths of the Amish living in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Amish holidays are family oriented with few decorations, special foods and handmade gifts.
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Brief History
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According to the Origins of the Old Order Amish, they originated in Switzerland in about 1525 and are a division of the Mennonites and Anabaptists (Re-baptizers). They were driven out of Europe in the 18th century and were granted a haven from religious persecution in America. The Amish began arriving in the United States in the 1700s and settled in Pennsylvania. Commonly known as the "Plain People," the Old Order Amish take their name from the Swiss Anabaptist Jacob Amman, who believed in living "non-resistant lives with brotherly love, sharing material aid and living close to the soil and following the Bible literally." Their motto is "Be ye not conformed to the world."
Holiday Celebrations
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The Amish recognize nine or more Christian holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Good Friday and Easter. Christmas is the most important holiday of the year and is celebrated over two days, December 25th and 26th. The birth of Christ is celebrated on December 25th as a solemn day of prayer, meditation and fasting. December 26th is celebrated with family and community with feasts and handmade gift giving.
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Decorations
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Although the Amish do not put up Christmas trees, some communities include the tradition of lighting candles and placing them in windows, symbolizing the birth of Christ. According to the Amish Quilt, some of the more liberal Pennsylvania Dutch Amish decorate their hearths, over the doorways and windows with stars and angels. Additionally, some Amish practitioners build a "putz" or nativity scene outside of the church for display during the Christmas holiday.
Gifts
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Gifts are always handmade and usually something practical, such as farm tools or household items. Young Amish girls might receive handmade clothes, rag dolls, wooden toys or books. Older Amish girls might receive something for their hope chest such as quilts and household wares. Amish wives usually receive household items for cooking or sewing and husbands receive tools or items for horses.
Food
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A traditional Christmas dinner is an elaborate feast that includes roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, salads, fruits, breads, cakes, cookies, pies and candies. The Christmas celebration meals are similar to the feasts that are prepared for Amish weddings.
Celebrations Include Non-Amish Friends
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According to The Quilt, even though the Amish shun modern society, they do have non-Amish friends and acquaintances. These friends are invited to Amish school programs and meals. Gifts of specially made food and candies are given to their acquaintances outside the Amish community.
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