5 Lesser-Known Holidays Observed By Amish

5 Lesser-Known Holidays Observed By Amish

ByErik Wesner
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Amish mark many of the same religious and secular holidays that other Americans do. But they also observe holidays that are not as widely celebrated. You’ll find five of them below (note: observance may vary between communities). 1. Ascension Day (40th Day After Easter Sunday) This day marks Jesus’ bodily ascension into heaven. It’s a movable holiday, dependent on the date of Easter Sunday. According to various sources including firsthand input from our…

The Gratz, PA Fire Company Sale (20 Photos)

The Gratz, PA Fire Company Sale (20 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
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It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on the Amish auction scene. Reader Jerry, a regular sale-goer, shares photos from the Gratz Fire Company Sale. This one took place May 1st and 2nd in Gratz, Pennsylvania. This is not located in Lancaster County, but the Dauphin County community are Lancaster-origin people, as you can see by the buggies and dress in the photos below. The…

The 1965 Iowa Amish School Incident

The 1965 Iowa Amish School Incident

ByErik Wesner
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The photo you see below, of Iowa Amish schoolchildren fleeing into a cornfield, was taken in 1965 by Des Moines Register photographer Thomas DeFeo and republished nationwide. It’s credited with spurring national support for the Amish, leading to the landmark Wisconsin v. Yoder 1972 Supreme Court decision (effectively allowing Amish to limit schooling to eight grades). The accompanying video features a number of other fascinating images taken at the time of the…

This Is Amish Country? 5 Surprising Places Amish Once Lived

This Is Amish Country? 5 Surprising Places Amish Once Lived

ByErik Wesner
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Where do the Amish live? Places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Indiana probably come right to mind. But they’ve also lived in some rather unusual locations. Here are some of the more surprising places Amish once called home. Primary sources include David Luthy’s The Amish in America: Settlements that Failed 1840-1960, and Steven M. Nolt’s A History of the Amish.  1. Paradise Valley, Mexico How…

Do the Amish really work harder than the rest of us?

Do the Amish really work harder than the rest of us?

ByErik Wesner
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“Hard-working” is one of the positive stereotypes firmly attached to the Amish. We see barn-raisings, 4 AM milkings, and tending broods of half-a-dozen children or more, and it’s hard to suggest otherwise. But do the Amish actually work harder than the rest of us? Do they just work differently? Jim Cates explores these questions today with a look at how an Amish friend’s work differs…

Suzanne Woods Fisher: The Story of the Red Mutza

Suzanne Woods Fisher: The Story of the Red Mutza

ByErik Wesner
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In her previous post on the Amish dress code, Suzanne Woods Fisher described some interesting nuances of Plain clothing, and explored the tailor background of Amish founder Jakob Amman. Today, Suzanne tells the story of an unusual coat that crossed the ocean with one Amish immigrant to America. The story below is excerpted from her new book The Heart of the Amish: Life Lessons on Peacemaking and the Power of…

Amish Foods: 5 Favorites Not To Miss

Amish Foods: 5 Favorites Not To Miss

ByErik Wesner
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I must have been hungry when I decided to write about food here. Below you’ll find a list of my five favorite Amish foods, and why I enjoy them. Would any of these make your list? Favorite things I eat when visiting the Amish Now, we can debate what makes a food “Amish” or not. That’s not really the point of this post though. I’m using…

Merlyn Yoder: If Bees Used the Ausbund

ByErik Wesner
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As we’ve seen in his previous posts, Indiana Amishman Merlyn Yoder is an enthusiast of the Ausbund, the centuries-old hymnal Amish sing from in church. Merlyn also has a love for beekeeping. In today’s post, Merlyn describes an ideal visit to the hive, and imagines what it would be like if the bees he keeps had voices of their own. I love Merlyn’s creativity and sense of…

NY Amish Fear Prison Over Safety Triangle Conflict (UPDATED)

ByErik Wesner
81 Comments

Updated May 5, 2015 | Jump to update WNYF reports that Amish in the Swartzentruber community of St. Lawrence County, New York fear being sent to jail, due to a recent push by county legislators to require the Slow Moving Vehicle safety triangle on their buggies. But does the triangle really even improve safety compared to the current solution? Before touching on that question, a little…

5 Surprising Items Found in Amish Homes

5 Surprising Items Found in Amish Homes

ByErik Wesner
47 Comments

Previously we looked at common features in Amish homes – linoleum flooring, propane lighting, and the natural gas fridge, to name a few.  But what about the more unexpected things you might find in an Amish home? The five items below probably don’t come right to mind when you think “plain and simple.” The usual caveats apply: not everything seen here will be acceptable in every church. Some of…