What do Amish do for fun?

Amish enjoy games, sports, outdoor activities and social events

amish funAmish life is not all hard work. Amish people have numerous opportunities for recreation. However, the boundary between leisure and “work” can be blurred. What does that mean exactly?

Well, there are things some Amish might consider enjoyable – that non-Amish would see as drudgery. For example, hours of shelling peas with sisters, or working a team of horses in the fields. At the same time, there are many Amish activities that are without a doubt “fun”.

Amish Boater
An Amish buggy heads out to the lake. Jamestown, New York. Photo: Andy

Amish leisure activities:

  • Hunting – Amish hunt for sport, food, and in some cases, to bring home trophies
  • Fishing – Fishing allows outdoor enjoyment and possibly, dinner
  • Camping and other outdoor activities – Family-oriented activities such as camping and bird-watching are highly popular among Amish
  • Sports – Sports are enjoyed to varying degrees, yet remain controversial
  • Board games – Board games may include Scrabble, Life on the Farm, and other traditional games
  • Card games – Amish do not gamble but enjoy a variety of card games for fun
  • Solo hobbies like reading or sewing
  • Letter-writing – Letter-writing builds community and is a way of keeping in touch across distances
  • Visiting other Amish – Visiting is perhaps the most common Amish leisure activity, and one that strengthens community
  • Auctions – Auctions occur frequently in Amish communities and are a chance to socialize, support a good cause, and possibly get a good deal

Amish have fun together

amish school christmas program
Community events are important. Amish attend a school Christmas program in New Wilmington, PA

As is true of most things in Amish society, typically, Amish leisure activities are shared. Getting together for a board game evening or heading out on a hunting trip with brothers is a way to get relaxation as well as spend family time.

Amish do enjoy solo hobbies such as reading, embroidery, and crossword puzzles as well.  Leisure time is typically time spent with others, and for the Amish this means with a web of family and friends.

1. Hunting and other outdoor activities

Amish enjoy many outdoor activities involving nature and wildlife.  There are many hunters among Amish men.   Amish hunt deer, birds, and sometimes take trips to the west in search of larger game.  Amish use both firearms and bows to hunt.

Fishing is also popular among Amish of all ages.  An added bonus of these activities is the fact that a successful hunt or fishing trip results in food for the family, a plus for the practically-minded Amish.  At the same time, some Amish do collect hunting trophies, and there is usually at least one Amish taxidermist in the larger communities.

amish fishing
Amish may own small boats used for fishing excursions

Other outdoor activities include birding, nature walks, and boating.  Many Amish are avid birders.  Amish keep lists of birds spotted on the farm and may take trips to different areas in hopes of adding other species to their tally.

Camping trips are another family activity popular among Amish.  Amish may camp in backyards or in some cases on a piece of land owned for recreation purposes.

Amish in some communities own small motorboats.  In Northern Indiana, it is not uncommon to see a buggy hauling a light boat to one of the numerous lakes in the area.  Sports like waterskiing are not common among Amish, however, though swimming is.

2. Sports

 

amish volleyball
Amish youth playing volleyball, Lancaster County

Amish have an ambiguous relationship with sports.  Some Amish see little harm in sports participation.  Others feel sports and games best left to children.  Popular sports among Amish include softball, volleyball, basketball, and hockey.  Some Amish may follow a favorite sports team.  Read more on the Amish and sports.

3. Board and card games

Amish also play numerous family games at home.  Traditional board games are popular, such as Life on the Farm, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit.  Some card games are popular as well, such as Uno, Scum, and Dutch Blitz.  Amish enjoy games such as Trivial Pursuit, and often make an evening out of playing a game.  The point is in getting family and friends together and enjoying one another’s company.  A bowl of popcorn or fresh fruit might be passed around as a snack and to provide energy for games that can sometimes last late into the evening.

view master disks
Amish appreciate old-fashioned fun. View-master disks in an Amish store.

4. Books and reading

Reading is also a popular pastime among Amish.  Amish libraries often include numerous books on history, nature, biographies, as well as religious books.  Some Amish read fiction.  Others subscribe to an Amish and Mennonite newspaper such as the Budget or Die Botschaft, or may receive the local newspaper.  A number of Amish subscribe to a national publication as a way of following the news of the world.

Letter writing is another popular way in which Amish spend free hours.  Letter writing is a way to stay in touch with relatives, exchange advice, and maintain community.  Sometimes it is the most practical way to stay in touch over long distances.  Circle letters are communal letters which are added to and then sent on to the next recipient on a list.  Circle letters may be maintained by family, or groups with similar interests, such as teachers, cancer survivors, or friends from a buddy bunch.

5. Visiting

Visiting relatives is another common way of spending down time among Amish.  Visiting may take place in the evenings but most commonly occurs on Sundays after church.  It’s typical that one may pay a visit to a sibling’s family, or to a family in one’s church district with a new baby.  Often these visits are unannounced, so an Amish family must expect to see guests at nearly any time on Sundays, even in the evening.  Visitors may come for a coffee and a piece of pie and a chance to exchange news, catch up on happenings, and make plans for the next get-together.

6. Auctions

amish auctions
Amish quilts being auctioned

A discussion of Amish forms of entertainment would not be complete without mentioning auctions.  Amish frequently put on auctions, often to benefit a cause, such as the long-running Haiti benefit auctions, or to benefit a local parochial school.

Other auctions occur when selling items from an individual’s estate.  Livestock and horse auctions are common as well.  Well-known auctions include the Lancaster County mud sales, and the auction to benefit the Clinic for Special Children, also held in Lancaster.  An auction is a popular place for the entire Amish family to socialize, eat good food, and purchase useful items for the home, farm, or business.

Amish have fun in different ways

There are a variety of ways Amish enjoy leisure time.  Some activities may be more common or popular in some communities or churches.  Some may not be sanctioned in others, such as some sports participation in more conservative communities. Regardless, Amish see leisure time as a time to both relax and to enjoy the company of friends and family.  In this way, leisure time recharges batteries and strengthens community at the same time.

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    13 Comments

    1. random person

      do the amish like to dance??? 😀

    2. Karen Pollard

      Amish Swimming

      What kind of swimsuit do the Amish wear? I’ve always wondered.

      My husband and I love to attend the school auction at Cannelburg, IN on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. There are usually about 125-150 quilts auctioned; all hand quilted.

      Being a quilter, I love to see the excellent handwork and the top quality of workmanship!

      I’ve managed to only buy TWO!!! lol I now own 4 Amish quilts and treasure them!

    3. Slightly-handled-Order-man

      English or Dutch Scrabble?

      When the Amish play Scrabble, do they use English words, or do they get high word scores for Pennsylvania Dutch ones?

      What a wonderful post this day, thanks Erik.

      1. Two different posts, same topic, one url :)

        I actually goofed a little on the url of today’s post. I unintentionally made it the same as this previous Encyclopedia page entry, so I think the email subscriber link is sending people here.

        I’ve fixed it now by slightly changing the url on today’s post, which is actually John Stoltzfus addressing this same question:

        https://amishamerica.com/what-do-amish-people-do-for-fun/

        Sorry for any confusion!

    4. SharonR

      Amish Fun

      Just as I suspected — good old fashioned “fun” — things we all used to do, before TV and the Internet. 🙂 Sometimes, wish for those days again–in my case, the 1950’s.

      On the question of swimsuits — I have seen pictures (far-away, and not intrusive), of girls sitting on the beach, near Pinecraft (Sarasota) in their dresses and caps, getting a little sunshine. Can’t say if they swim in their dresses, or what? Will leave that question to someone who knows more.

      The quilt shows are wonderful places to see the magnificent art and patience, and creativity, with making a quilt!! So enjoyed one we went to in Pinecraft, FL.
      SharonR

      1. Debbie

        1950s

        Sharron, I too remember those days before TV and internet. Going to grandma’s house on Sunday for fried chicken and games with the cousins. Can we turn back time?
        Debbie

        1. SharonR

          comment to Debbie

          YES, sometimes wish we could “turn back time” — it was always the “norm” to eat at grandma’s or a relative’s house on a Sunday!! Since my mom came from a family of 10, there was always a good variety of aunts/uncles to go visit! AND each with it’s fond memories, much like the Amish I’m sure are doing!
          SharonR

    5. Dessa

      I love doing quilting in my spare time.

    6. Fun

      That list sounds just like my childhood and I am still enjoying many of those activities as an adult.

    7. Train Watching

      In our area, Big Valley, PA, one of their favorite recreation time is to go over to the next valley along the Juniata River, where besides being able to fish in the river, they watch the trains as they pass through the little village of Mattawana. I, for one, grew up there and my grandmother had a little village store. The Amish for as long I as can remember (going back to the 1950’s) would come over in their horse and buggies for the day. Usually a day in the summer, and always on Assention Day also. Now they have a van driver bring them over for the day, and often you’ll see a little tent put up so the children can take a nap, and also a dining canopy. They keep count of the trains going through, how many engines pulling how many cars, etc. Sometimes you will see a horse and buggy making the trip. They have about a 12 mile trip over a fairly high mountain (Jack’s Mtn). Another activity they will do for fun, is go just to the top of Jack’s Mtn, where you will find the Hand Gliders taking off from the top and gliding over the valley. They find enjoyment in a number of lifes simple inexpenise activities! Oh, almost forgot, we took a family to the zoo one year; the father wanted his kids to see the different animals there, so we rented a van and all went to the Pittsburg Zoo. Then on the way home, we had a picnic at Horseshoe Curve, near Altoona…..yep, we watched the trains go around that famous manmade railroad attraction. Life is good!

      1. SharonR

        Train Watching and what do Amish do for fun

        That sounds like fun!! Sometimes the simplest things are the most enjoyable! Hope that does not ever change!
        SharonR

    8. Theresa

      What types of handicrafts

      I know about quilting and some embroidery but what other needlecrafts does the Amish do? I am big into crocheting myself.

      1. Claudia Myers

        Crocheting

        Yes, the Amish women do crocheting. I’ve received gifts of crocheted table scarfs, doilys, etc. Also knit cotton dishcloths. They also make handtowels that are made to hang from a handle by buying store towels and then sewing or crocheting a section on top to hang the towel from a handle on the fridge or stove or drawer.