Amish Cook Gloria Yoder: Easter Traditions & Reflections
With Easter close at hand, Amish Cook columnist Gloria Yoder recalls Easter traditions, and reflects on the meaning of Christ in her life:
When I was a young girl, our Amish youth group would go Easter caroling early in the morning. Long before the first crack of dawn, a team of workhorses was hitched to an open wagon, hauling our youth group. Going to each church family’s home, they would stand outside the window and softly sing songs of Jesus’ death and resurrection. As an adult, I can still feel the quiet, sereneness of Easter morning when I peek out the window, watching the youth, all huddled together, dressed warm enough for the open ride as they make their way from home to home.
As soon as Dad would hear them coming down the road toward our house, he would quickly wake us children so we wouldn’t miss out on this very special annual tradition. As they sang at our home, I recall my dad wiping away tears. It didn’t mind it, yet I couldn’t identify; 20 years later I understand more of what he may have felt.
Years have a way of shedding a different light on almost anything. You know how life has a way of bringing with it curve balls we never asked for or even expected. You could fill in the blanks on what areas of your life have been the roughest spots for you. I’ve had times l felt like I didn’t have a thing to go to. It felt that if I would even give it all to Jesus, it really wouldn’t make much difference.
…
Through the thick of things, Daniel and I have developed a standby statement. When disaster strikes, to a greater or lesser degree, we just look at each other and say, “Well, our answer is still the same.” We both know what the other is thinking without finishing it. What is your answer? What could possibly stay the same through all the torrents of changes and heartaches that strikes at one point or another of life? The answer Daniel and I both fall back on, is Jesus. Every time we get our focus on Jesus the trial at hand has a way of melting in the background, and we regain hope and clear vision once more.
Now as I think of all that my Lord has brought me through it makes sense why dad’s eyes filled with tears as he listened to those Easter songs on the stillness of those early mornings and why his voice quavered as he read chapter after chapter in our Bible storybook of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection on Easter morning.
Read Gloria’s column in full here.
And: how do the Amish celebrate Jesus’ resurrection? Amish Easter traditions in three communities.
I think this is a great way to celebrate and I love how they all stay together
Gloria
Inspiring thoughts: Thank you as it really
helped me today.
Glad to hear it Carla. I like how Gloria writes. Happy Easter!
easter traditions
I love this tradition, and would love to hear them singing…heralding this glorious morning.
Amish holidays are alway very solemn and family and church focused. Not much in the way decorations and non-Christian commercialism. Caroling is also common in a few communities during Christmas.
Always amazed at similarities
I’m Moravian Brethren and we have a similar tradition of waking fellow believers to the Lord’s rising on Easter. Each congregation has a brass choir that goes from member’s house to member’s house playing Easter/sacred tunes. We’re a little different than some groups due to our use of musical accompaniment, however, the custom is very similar. I wonder if this is a German custom that we’ve maintained in our own ways?
Easter
I’ll use our Amish friends greeting that is used in letter writing…
Christian greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus †
Gloria wrote such a heartfelt note to all of us readers, and for that, I say thank you!
The singing tradition on Easter morning was new to me. I’ll be in the Kingston/Dalton communities on 5/7, and when we stop to visit I’m going to ask if they have that same tradition.
In the Budget there is often a blurb in someone’s letter about the school kids or youngie singing for the widows, shut-ins, a family that is saying goodbye to a loved one, etc. There is a NO community about 40 minutes from us, and they go once a month to the local nursing home and sing. When one of their drivers, who was a personal friend of ours, was in the nursing home they made it a point to seek him out. When he passed away they sang at his funeral in church. What a comfort they brought to all who attended the service.
The Amish friends I’ve had almost my whole life have all been OO, and rarely, if at all, went out into the English community to sing. So, when I learned of their community outreach it came as a surprise. All I can say is, Good for them! 🙂
Years ago we stopped in to visit friends and it was milking time. What did we hear as we got out of the car? Singing! Or another time it was chicken butchering time…more singing! How’s that for some cheap old fashioned fun! 🙂
So, Erik, that’s it until next time Remember the B &B offer still stands! 🙂
Safe in Christ and Standing on His Promises, †