Do Amish folks celebrate Christmas?

Do the Amish celebrate Christmas? Yes, they do, although their customs are much simpler than our “English” customs. They are oriented toward the family and the religious meaning of the holiday.

How does the Amish celebrate Christmas?

Just like the Amish celebrate Easter, they celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Amish view Christmas as a day to pay homage to Jesus and his teachings. They often attend a church service on Christmas day and spend the holiday exchanging gifts and reminiscing about Jesus's birth.

What do Amish call Christmas?

The Amish also celebrate what they call "Old Christmas." Old Christmas falls exactly 12 days from Christmas Day, and is the observance of the Epiphany or "Three Kings' Day" when the wise men came to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus.

Do Amish get presents on Christmas?

On December 25, many Amish orders exchange gifts, but it's unlikely that they will decorate their homes in the same way that English people do. You won't find a Christmas tree in an Amish home, but baked goods are plentiful.

Why do the Amish not have Christmas trees?

The Amish don't have Christmas trees. They focus more on family and the birth of Jesus than on gifts and Christmas decorations. Christmas trees are an “English” or outsider tradition. Christmas decorations in an Amish household include candles, garland, and poinsettia flowers.

5 Ways the Amish Celebrate Christmas

What is forbidden in Amish culture?

As part of their Ordnung, Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios, or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing.

Why do Amish not use birth control?

Birth control and abortion are forbidden by religious doctrine, even when pregnancy is life threatening. The Amish church has no rule against immunization, but only 16-26% of Amish children have received immunizations against the common childhood diseases.

What do Amish do on their wedding night?

The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)

What is a typical Amish Christmas dinner?

The Christmas meal is usually quite elaborate including roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, salads, fruits, breads, cakes, cookies, pies and candies. Each family tends to have their own Christmas meal and gathering and with Amish families being so large, these gatherings can last well into February.

Do Amish marry their cousins?

Marrying a first cousin is not allowed among the Amish, but second-cousin relationships are allowed. Marriage to a "Schwartz" cousin (the first cousin once removed) is not permitted in Lancaster County. The onset of courtship is usually not openly discussed within the family or among friends.

What Bible do the Amish use?

But the Amish do not have a specific Amish Bible. They use the German Martin Luther Bible or the English King James Version.

Do Amish drink alcohol?

They didn't want anything to do with alcohol or tobacco, and both of these are strictly forbidden in the New Order Amish groups. And the same is true for the Beachy Amish/conservative Mennonites as well. They also have rules against alcohol and tobacco use.

Do Amish celebrate birthdays?

Birthdays are celebrated at home and school in quiet, pleasant ways, with cakes and gifts. Parents often share a special snack of cookies or ice cream with school friends to honor a child's birthday. This continues normally up to the 16 birthday.

What holidays do the Amish recognize?

When it comes to holidays, the Amish celebrate many of the same ones we “English” do. And though Amish holidays aren't likely to include our federal holidays like Columbus Day or Labor Day, many Amish observe other holidays such as Easter Monday, “second Christmas,” “Old Christmas,” Pentecost, and Ascension Day.

What holidays do Amish not celebrate?

The Amish do not typically celebrate July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Halloween. They do not believe in going to war, so they don't celebrate the holidays concerning our freedom. They mostly celebrate religious holidays.

Do the Amish use mirrors?

While the Amish do not take pictures of themselves, they do use mirrors. The use of a mirror is allowed because unlike a picture, it is not a graven image. Women use mirrors to do their hair and men use mirrors to shave. If you take our guided farmhouse tour, you'll spot a few mirrors in the house.

What do Amish give Christmas gifts?

Do the Amish exchange gifts? School children often pick names and exchange small gifts, such as writing paper or needlepoint kits. Families also exchange some small gifts – and some send Christmas cards, often to their “English” friends.

What is the most popular Amish food?

Do the Amish do Santa?

Christmas, it's the most wonderful time of the year! But Christmas for the Amish is not a time for Jack Frost, elves, or visiting Santa Claus. Rather, Christmas is focused on the celebration of Christ's birth. As the holiday approaches, some Amish families may decorate with greens inside their homes.

At what age do Amish girls marry?

The Amish Community and Dating

Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22. To find a prospective date, the young adults socialize at functions such as frolics, church, or home visits.

Can Amish marry non Amish?

Marriage between Amish and outsiders is rare. That's because it's not allowed by Amish Law. However, should an outsider decide to convert to the Amish faith and get baptized, they'll be accepted as a member of the Amish community. They'll then be allowed to marry an Amish person.

Do Amish get to pick who they marry?

Unmarried Amish choose their own husbands/wives, and the woman is very much involved in the process. Courtship often begins with a young man transporting a young woman to and from one of the many singings or Sunday worship.

Why can't Amish girls cut their hair?

Some of the victims are the parents of those accused. Amish women do not cut their hair and Amish men do not cut their beards after marriage for biblical reasons. “In the Amish faith a man's beard and a women's hair are sacred religious symbols,” Bridget M.

Do Amish ladies shave their legs?

This is why Amish women very seldom cut their hair. As far as plucking stray facial hair and shaving legs and underarms, that is usually a personal choice. Some do, some don't.

Why do Amish not have tvs?

But the Amish refuse to own television or automobiles because they've decided those technologies erode their community and neighborliness. For the rest of us, the cost of technological convenience may be coming due.