Most Amish speak a dialect known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch as their primary language. It’s generally not used as a written tongue, though that doesn’t mean it’s not written, in one form or another, from time to time. And so today we have a list of terms for you to guess (or if you know PA Dutch already, this should be pretty easy). Ohio…
Have you ever tried to “live like the Amish?” There have been quite a few books and articles written on the subject. It’s easy to see why. In a hectic, disjointed world, many of us crave things we see in Amish society. Things like strong community, life oriented around nature, and less dependence on technology, to name a few. Of course, you can’t truly live like the Amish….unless you…
Running this website for over fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege to not only learn about the Amish – but also observe how the rest of us talk about them.  The Amish certainly generate a lot of discussion across the web and elsewhere. But since they are not the most accessible group, sometimes – often – the discussion is not what it could be….
For the start of the school term a few weeks ago, Rebecca Miller shared with us 5 things children learn in Amish schools (not found in books). Today she compares Amish schools with their public counterparts, and shares 15 ways they are different. It’s worth noting here that quite a few Amish parents do choose to send their children to public schools. Some Amish parents prefer public…
What colors will you find in a “true” Amish quilt? When I attended Amish quilt expert Janneken Smucker’s presentation on the topic, I was surprised to learn that the use of color by Amish quilters was much more flexible than I’d assumed. These weren’t just the bold reds, blues and dark tones we often associate with Amish handiwork. Today Janneken explains how Amish quilters of another era incorporated popular…
We’ve got the second batch of answers to your questions on the Amish, courtesy of Merlyn Yoder in northern Indiana. If you missed it, here are Merlyn’s replies to the first 17 questions. Below, you’ll find responses to 16 more. Today’s questions cover everything from waking up early to celebrating Christmas to tracking the weather to former Amish clothing. Thanks to everyone who asked a question, and a…
What happens at an Amish funeral? In today’s post, Rebecca Miller shares an account of a funeral which took place in her community. Rebecca is a member of an Old Order Amish church in Holmes County, Ohio. She is a schoolteacher, and also works at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center (Berlin, OH). Over the past couple of months, Rebecca has kindly offered her knowledge of her…
Indiana Amishman Merlyn Yoder, who has contributed articles for us on the Ausbund, beekeeping, and being an example, has offered to answer questions you might have about Amish life. Here’s Merlyn’s bio again: Merlyn, his wife, and six children live in northern Indiana. He has a job in the RV industry and his hobbies include woodworking, working on engines, beekeeping, orcharding, and history. So feel free…
I didn’t realize the story of the little stitches that hold Amish quilts together could be so interesting. Thanks to Janneken Smucker’s post today, I now do. I hope you enjoy her concise look at quilt stitching including the importance of consistency, the 1980s “Quilters War”, and how much it costs to hire an Amish person to do these stitches. — Quilting by the Yard In…
Do the Amish care about the environment? How do they respond to challenges like pollution, the impact of pesticides, and habitat loss? College of Wooster professors David McConnell and Lyn Loveless wrote about Amish views of nature in their last post. They return today with a look at the Amish and environmental problems in their communities and beyond. Do these issues concern Amish people? Is the Amish lifestyle “ecological” as…