5 Ways the Amish Celebrate Christmas
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- How do the Amish celebrate Christmas? A look at how Rebecca Miller of the Holmes County, Ohio Amish community & her family celebrate the season of the birth of Jesus Christ.
What foods do the Amish eat at Christmas time? What do Amish families do when they get together for the holidays, including New Year's? What about Santa, Christmas trees, and other decorations? Plus a look at a lesser-known second holiday related to Christmas - observed in many Amish communities in January.
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My name is Erik Wesner and I'm not Amish. Back in 2004, I met the Amish while selling books. Since then, I've visited 5,000+ Amish homes & dozens of Amish communities. I run the Amish America website. More: amishamerica.com/
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The Amish school near me came caroling to my home. Big group of children with their teacher riding in a wagon pulled by two draft horses. So very kind of them.
Oh how great is that!! I live in California, never see Carolers here. Those are the things that make Christmas special. You are so Blessed !
How awesome!!!
So sweet!!
That is wonderful.
That’s awesome they came caroling. I haven’t seen that in years.
In Southern Appalachia "Old Christmas" is also still celebrated. The Christmas starts January 1st and last till January 6th. They are not Amish families just families with very old Appalachian roots.
My one Amish neighbor fills her house with poinsettias. Then she has a pine spray on her front door. We exchanged baked goods and recipes earlier this week.
We need to go back to these wholesome days! They are blessed to stick to their believes! God bless th3m all!
I live in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, I enjoy watching the buggy’s go by my house all the time
Last month I had a buggy full of Amish riding by singing “Jingle Bells “ made my day
Christmas in July Lol
I like Amish tradition,they still riding a horse,good for the environment especially the price of gasoline is high they’re not worried about it.🐴🐴🌺🌷🌸🌹
My late grandmother was in a nursing home in Walnut Creek and got visited by both Mennonite and Amish carolers.
I would love to live in their community, to feel a part of a family again.
Me as well❤
Me too
Thank you Eric for your thoughtful coverage of Amish families. Amish have been relocating to Montana of late including our new neighbor, Dwight. The past two summers we invited Dwight to pasture his small cattle herd on our pastures, free of charge. We ended up buying one of his steers for butcher. December 19 they arranged to come a-caroling. Half their church community showed up at 6 pm during a pretty good snowstorm. They sang 5 carols for us. Babies in arms up to fathers of 6, they knew every word by heart. We invited them inside for mulled cider from our small orchard. They worried about bring in dirt but I told them our floor can handle a crowd. We so enjoyed our visit with children and adults. One mom told us she just arrived from Pennsylvania which I imagined as the motherland of sorts. Several asked about the age and history of our orignal farmhouse; something they truly appreciate is historical buildings. The men and boys were asking loads of questions about hunting as we have a few wall mounts. As they filed out to get back into the many vans and SUVs they said they were heading to their church for a re-gathering. We so enjoyed the simple gift of their time and song - and they did give us a basket of fruit, just like your video mentioned.
What area are they relocating to and why? My husband and I just visited great falls mt for a possible job transfer, however that area had absolutely no trees just prairies and we were a little disheartened since trees on a homestead becomes pretty important
@@slee7991 Bitterroot Valley which is western Mt south of Missoula. Great Falls, Havre, Shelby on east (High Line it’s called), are all like that...high winds with serious weather. Look at Columbus, Lewistown, or Columbia Falls, for a good mix of tree and pasture lands. Prices are coming down finally.
We have Amish relocated here in Toston Montana. I've hired them to do a reroof on tne house, the job was prefect, we were so pleased to have a job well done. Enjoy them anytime we cross paths with they. Such sincere, true people.
@@mjb9176 that sounds near Pepper box ranch. I watched them building a cabin their 20 years ago 😊
If they have SUVs they aren’t Amish..quite likely Amish roots..my sister lives in Great Falls she’s Mennonite 😊
In Cuba we celebrated Jan 6th also. That's when we'd receive toys that were handmade. My Mom was a seamstress, and I absolutely loved finding my homemade doll every year.
I've kept that tradition all my life. Decorations come down on the 7th
I would love to see Christmas Caroling come back ❤️❤️❤️
This sounds very nice, very simple, the joy in singing and togetherness, it sounds very lovely. I've always admired the Amish for their way of life! ❤
Caroling is nice. I live in a Amish area. I see they've abuse to their women. They don't talk about that. Much harder life than you could imagine. Have your babies at home n no pain medication. No birth control.
Fuck that
Umm I wouldn’t admire them too much, women who have escaped those communities have been abused & raped & then shunned for speaking out.
@@Redandwhiteroses283 Evil may be found in every community, religious and non-, on the face of the Earth. That fact doesn't negate the joys and honest good will in them.
@@arrjee3176A religion does not change 50 miles up the road , each Amish have different beliefs and rules which can change in the blink of a eye….leaving the community means you are shunned, SA on your son or daughter? You can confess your sins and your good to go …..
Yes there is good and evil everywhere, the difference being? The Amish are ok with SA, R, Insest .
Shunning? No that’s a CULT , If I don’t go to church my neighbours do not shun me ….
Pretty in a bow is not real life …
I live in northwest Pennsylvania Pennsylvania and there is Mennonites and Amish in the rural villages. Mennonites are open mind to modern life but still have traditional religious beliefs. Mennonites celebrate holidays around their religious beliefs, meaning the Christmas parties and hobby groups are at the church. Most Mennonites and Amish are homesteaders/ farmers.
This is the way Christmas should be celebrated. Christ and family oriented.
Hello Dear
How are you doing today?
I’ve always been fascinated by the Amish .🌟
Amish cultural attributes to appreciate:
1- Craftsmanship
2- Tasty treats
3- Work ethic
4- Dedication to their faith
5- Self-reliance
6- More:_______ (please list below)
6. Sense of humor
Strong family bonds
Strong community and sense of helping others
A high respect and reverence for the land.
Belief in a living God.
As a child in Wisconsin, we attended a one room country school. The Christmas Program was the highlight of the school year. Family and neighbors attended. Every child in the school participated.
Same for me in Nebraska miss it .
Bless these people for how they live and the hard work they do. I am a born again Christian and living in today's world, it is very difficult or almost impossible to make it. I understand now why the Amish stay away from the world and the worldly people. They are the (normal people). Worldly people are the ones that are not.
We have conformed to this world, where they have not so much which varies from one group to the next.
My Family also Celebrates Jan.6th. We always called it "Little Christmas"
"
I’ve heard it being called, “Second Christmas”. I didn’t know that it was a thing until I was invited to it as a Christmas party two years ago. It was one of my favorite times being with my Amish friends.
I'm glad you mentioned the old Christmas. My friend that is amish said they celebrate Christmas in their home with their spouse and kids. And on old Christmas they will get together with their family. I think that is pretty cool
I found Saloma's description of it interesting - one Christmas with the world, and one "private" Christmas
I pass that amish school in New Wilmington every day. Very large amish community here.
I grew up Mennonite/Old Order Bible Brethren and went to an Amish/Mennonite mixed school. I would say my upbringing was similar to this just a tad more "modern". Gifts were store bought as well as homemade. Christmas eve was when we did our exchange, and Christmas morning was spent at church no matter what day it fell on. When I grew up, I did Santa for my kids. I don't truly regret it, BUT in some ways, if I could go back, I would change it. Ya see, Santa has no budget, mom and dad did. Was more stress than enjoyment. There is something to be said for the simpler way of life. I have reverted back to quite a bit of simpler living. TIME is the most PRECIOUS gift in my opinion now. Even though there seems to be so much of it, there really isn't. Good video!!! First of yours I have seen. Will be binge watching now!
May I ask you, and forgive my ignorance, what is the distinction between Amish and Mennonite? I am curious because where I grew up in the deep south we never saw either Amish or Mennonite communities. Now that I have recently moved to NW Tennessee and my sister to Hopkinsville Kentucky, we see these folks often. How can I learn to tell the differences? Thankyou in advance ☺
I love their family oriented life. I so miss family get togethers. Thank you for this.
So simple and cozy! I would feel quite at home in the spotless and airy kitchen I saw. I don't get a sense of deprivation at all, but joy, togetherness and peace.
They are very holy humble people.Extreemly good cooks& very much like any good Christian. They are hard working.we could learn alot from them,as they aren't as materialistic.Good people.👍🙏
Some Eastern Orthodox Christians also celebrate Christmas on the 6th of January
Merry Christmas Eric.
We had a major storm roll through our area A week ago, I spent A lot of time helping my Neighbors both Amish and English with my Skidder and saws , Lots of down trees.
We had a gathering afterwards at A home near me, Shepards stew over potatoes, Our game for adults is cribbage.
I was invited to their home for Christmas meal, The woman of the house told me to bring a dish to take home leftovers, (She always sends her eldest with cookies it's our code for they would like help with a machine) Such sweet folks!
Merry Christmas everyone from Bakersfield California.
Katherine Kinnaird Merry Christmas to you and yours
We are not Amish but always celebrated Little Christmas on January 6th. We still have a special dinner with the immediate family. On January 7th all the Christmas decorations are taken down and packed away
Another great video. My mom and I made several gingerbread houses from scratch and dropped one off to the woman at the local bulk foods store as we'd purchased some of our ingredients there. I truly enjoy living so close to the Amish!
Thanks Chuck! I bet they liked that, awesome to be able to have those friendships 👍
Many cultures celebrate Jan 6th. In Italy, they celebrate Befana visiting the infant,, similar to the 3 kings.
Gifts are exchanged and children have great fun!
Merry Christmas, Erik. I always appreciate your videos. I love seeing how the “other” Amish live as I am English living in Salisbury Township, Lancaster, PA. My wife and I have many Amish friends here - more Amish than English, in fact. My wife attended a Christmas gathering last Tuesday with one of our closest Amish families. She was front row (with the grandparents), and at the end of the gathering, all of the younger children on stage began pelting Hershey Kisses at the audience. It was all part of the gathering and all in fun. So many people just have no idea how much fun the Amish have and how much they are like non-Amish in so many ways, yet also, so very different. Your channel brings a lot of this to light to the uninformed in a very real way, and I appreciate it. Thank you!
This was so beautiful ❤️ what you wrote !
My siblings and I went with my aunt, uncle and our cousins to visit some family friends near Lancaster, PA., summer of 1975 (Pequea). I can remember to this day seeing the Amish riding in their buggies on the winding roads. I also remember the term "Pennsylvania Dutch". I don't remember what that means, but it stuck with me.
We have one Amish settlement in Texas around Beeville, down south. My grandmother was from that area but left king before the Amish settled there. I'd REALLY like to go visit during auction time. Maybe soon. I believe as I get older (facing 50 in a few months) I long for a simpler, less chaotic way to do life. While the Amish life is far from perfect, I believe they may have a better grasp on the more important things in life. Things like people over "stuff". Taking care of community, when Amish or Englisch, is a much higher priority than owning material goods (luxuries).
Merry Christmas From Southern Indiana
Merry Christmas! I had a hope to make it as far as southern Indiana on my recent Amish trip but unfortunately will have to wait til next time
My friend and her husband had their farm hit by a tornado. Took down the cattle barn and silos. First ones to come help? The Mennonites.
From Indiana seen lots of Amish .Beautiful quilts
6th of Jan little Christmas is celebrated by many in Ireland. Many call it womens day. Day off for women, they usually spend it with friends and sisters. Day for themselves away from cooking. It's a reward for all the preparations and work they did for Christmas time.
Sounds like how we celebrated Christmas as. A chid in the 50s, no tv yet in our area. Wish it stayed that way.
Very interesting. Sounds like the Amish have the right idea in celebrating Christmas. ☃️🌲
I used to live near the Amish in the finger lakes there bakery is the best
Makes sense. The farms are quiet in the winter. Good time to catch up visiting.
I think the Amish lifestyle is very interesting! There are large Amish communities in northern Indiana.
🎄Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎅🏻 God bless from Australia 🙏🏻🕊🇦🇺🐨
Most primary (elementary) schools here in the UK will have shows at Christmas where children act out the Nativity or have a big carol service for the parents.
I have a friend who is Serbian Orthodox and they celebrate easter at a different time, it sounds like the Amish and Old Christmas, Thank you for sharing this!
Orthodox Christmas is celebrated the 7th of January. Old Christmas or Epiphany is also celebrated by Catholics on January 6.
So loving and connected. My soul wishes to be with them.
Our Amish friends here in Maine celebrate Christmas in March.
I live on a farm in a large Amish/Mennonite community and I love my neighbors. Honest, generous, peaceful, Christian, and know farming ways long forgotten by all, except them. Merry Christmas/ Happy Hanukkah to all and I wish you may know the peace and happiness we have.
We always called January 6th as Little Christmas. It is also known as Three Kings in some communities.
The Amish near us in southern Indiana went to visit family having pizza and ice cream! They are very “ Old Order” .
Pass my thanks along to Rebecca and wish her a Blessed Christmas and Old Christmas for me. Thanks and Blessed Christmas to you, too, Eric.
That Gregorian calendar sent quite a few people into a miff back in the day. The Eastern Orthodox Churches still hold to the old Julian calendar, too. I think we all learn that Julius Caesar noticed that the seasons were out of whack with the calendar he inherited, so he called for the Leap Year to reset it. I think he inserted his own month (July) as well. Then his successor Augustus inserted August. There's probably a lot of legend in that account, but regardless, that's the Julian calendar that the Amish go by to celebrate Old Christmas. For what it's worth, the Orthodox just call it Christmas, and chide the Western Church (especially Catholics) for mucking around with things. But the reason the days were removed that one year during the reign of Pope Gregory (I forget his number) is because the seasons were out of whack again. For myself, I celebrate Advent as a time of penance and preparation, then Christmas from December 25 through Candlemas, which is February 2. Epiphany is just one of the observances throughout the entire Christmas Season.
We live in a large Amish area. We went to Grabill in Indiana today as one owns the antique mall. I don’t remember seeing any decorations on the farms.. thank you for this and Merry Christmas!
It might be that they don't display them there generally. So I was just in a spin-off community from Grabill in Kentucky a few days ago, and I don't recall much if any Christmas decor there either.
I used to live in Roanoke, Indiana and we went to Grabil and Shipshewanna a lot. We stopped to buy bread and cakes many times.
What a very nice job you did here. Thank you.
Thank you and I have much respect for the Amish. Happy Christmas
This sounds like Christmas when I was young
Ohio born and raised here, I’ve met tons of Amish families my ex boyfriend’s best friend was a Amish guy name Noah and he kept Derricks giant Belgian horses for him
Hello 👋 how’re you doing?
What a lovely custom. This is one I may take up. It extends a season of comfort joy and peace on Earth. Jesus will smile I am sure. Thanks for another great video.
Merry Christmas from southern Utah! Thanks, Erik! I'm originally from KY, so I was excited to hear that you were traveling through my home state. 🙂
Thanks Heather and you too! Can't wait to share some videos from KY
I know some Amish that celebrate the day after Christmas as second Christmas.
My family is from Puerto Rico and we also do the January 6 th holiday the 3 Wise Kings Day and that’s why after New Years they don’t take their decorations off , kids get gift this day and they practice putting a box with hay under their bed and the find gifts. Hello from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I am use to the Amish here
I believe this is how Christmas should be celebrated - no commercialism. Wonderful video! Thank you Erik!!
Glad you thought so Judy!
In Poland, we have Christmas Eve which is most important one but is also a normal workday, then first holiday at 25th and then second holiday at 26th and then at January 6 we have another holiday which we call Three Kings Holiday or Epiphany.
Trzech Króli 🙂
In some appalachian communities they observe Old Christmas as well.
The lack of Santa decorations did not surprise me. But I am surprised that Nativity scenes, stars, and other biblical decorations arent more prevalent with such a pious people
As always another outstanding video packed full of great actuate well researched unbiased information..New Wilmington Pa is just a 45min drive to the south of where I live here in western Pa..if you ever get the wonderlust to venture out to Western Pennsylvania and do some videos Atlantic and Fredonia Pa are a huge Amish community and are only a few mins drive apart from each other with the town I live in right in the middle of the two..Middlefield OH is about a 45min to an hour's drive to the west of us..plenty of places to stay here with the Amish or there's actually a couple hotels here..one small very nice clean family owned and a new Comfort Suites ..don't know why they built a Comfort Suites in such a very small town but the place is busy all the time..great video..I always learn something new from them and I've lived with the Amish all my 61yrs..Merry Christmas and my God bless you and your family and friends..🎄🙏🏻☦️👍
I love this video. Thank you. We have Amish in our community also. I did wonder how they celebrate Christmas and other holidays. In fact--I am getting ready now to go to an Amish store for some homemade donuts!!
Thank you for your channel and very merry Christmas and happy New Year to you
I like seeing the country scenes all seasons of the year
The Blue Ball Mennonite Church has a channel where they have a choir sing all the time, and services. All acapella.
Thank you for this most informative narrative and the various photos. Much appreciated!
Excellent content. Very well presented. This will help many understand the Amish community. I know I learned alot...Thank you.
Happy to hear it!
So beautiful and peaceful. Would love the simplicity of their lives. This is how we all should live.
Here in Holmes County there are caroling families that will go around to elderly, widows and housebound folks homes to sing.
What a wonderful loving christmas celebration❤ love amish
Hello Jennifer
How are you doing today?
@@smiththomson95 good thank you hope all is well your way have a merry christmas💓💕
@@jenniferbeasley9966 Oh yes i'm well thank you
Where are you texting from?
@@smiththomson95 idaho
My God! I am happy for this community: Christmas is a beautiful day with joy!
I love the simplicity! Sooo awesome!
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The true meaning is a child is born in a stable, my you be blessed by God
In Czech Republic the sixth of January is also celebrated- it is called st. Nicholas day and kids get stocking full of fruit and candy
Have you ever seen " Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas" ? It's a cute book we used to read when we were younger. There are a few readings on Utube.
I haven't seen it, sounds fun though
My dad's ancestors were Pennsylvania Dutch that settled New Philadelphia Pennsylvania and Ohio and the Appalachians and Tennessee and Ozarks and were kicked out of Switzerland and Germany and Austria during the Protestant Reformation.
I know the Amish is considered "old fashioned" but don't we wish the world could be kinder and gentler liken to the Amish traditions?
Happy Christmas!
Hi 👋 how’re you doing?
THANK YOU I JUST FOUND YOU ON CZcams .GOD BLESS YOU.
The big difference between how modern families get together today, and how the Amish get together is technology - or in the case of the Amish, the lack of it, which is a good thing! I can picture many families today messing around on their phones, watching football and playing video games. Not much opportunity for real person to person interaction. And there's nothing to "catch up on", because everyone knows what you've been up to, before you even hit the door. My extended family gatherings over 50 years were a hybrid of the two. My family was very "clannish" and male oriented. After the big family dinner, the men watched football, while the women cleaned up the kitchen. And after we were done, we joined the men in watching the game. No time for the women to visit among themselves. We did play games, however, like charades, etc., and we sang. And we had a huge gift exchange. It was a lot of fun! On the other hand, there was a lot of drinking. In the old country, where my family was from (Eastern Europe), it was customary to entertain in your home, instead of going to the local pub or bar.
Up to
VERY educational and interesting
That's Four Mile Greenhouse in Jackson County, OH. I shop there every year for my gardening needs!! It's the best nursery around!! 1:04
Nice, you got it! :) I stopped in at Four Mile furniture down the road, and Four Mile Bulk food. Great visits at both, will have videos from each. Really had a nice impression of that community
This is absolutely fascinating! Happy New Year to all.
Thanks Eric.
interesting people. I go to Shipshewana every summer. Thank you for the video.
Erik, Thank You for sharing and showing how the Amish live and celebrate life and holidays. Your videos are always very insightful and interesting. I hope you hand your family had a nice Christmas Holiday and a Healthy Ney Year.
Thank you! Glad you liked it :), And, thankfully I did have a good Christmas and New Year's, hope you did as well.
I always enjoy your content ☺️. Thanks for this excellent picture of Amish life.
My Orthodox friends celebrate Christmas on the "old" day
Merry Christmas Eric. Thanks for the video w/so much information. Also a lot of info from the others that are commenting. Never knew about Old Christmas tradition. Do know that those who are Orthodox Christian celebrate Christmas on Jan. 5th (Eve) & 6th (Day). Sounds like the Amish have a lot of fun & feasting. Hope you have/had a wonderful Christmas.
Thanks for the kind wishes Kathy and Merry belated Christmas to you too. Glad you liked the video, some of them I pack more info into than others :) And yes I don't think Amish people are immune from holiday pounds either (though chores come in handy for that)
Sorry, but as an Orthodox Christian I must correct your dates- Christmas Eve is January 6th and Christmas Day is January 7th.
@@veronicafritz8223 Not to my friends who are Serbian Orthodox. I've been to their chrurch service & home for their Christmas.
Hi Eric, I am a new subscriber and i love what you do. God bless you my brother.
Very happy you found the channel, thanks for the kind words! 👍👍
@@AmishAmerica Thanks!
When I was a little girl, they sang at my door, gave us a food box, and gave me and my brother gifts, but of course, we knew them has well
Thanks so much for this video Eric. This definitely answered questions I had. I find it comforting that as different we all may be this season brings us all together in the season of joy, doing similar things. My moms family is Italian, so January 6th was always celebrated in our home. Another large gathering with family occurred, and then on the 7th we then were able to take our Christmas decorations down. Yes it's the Epiphany but we always called it little Christmas. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.
Very neat MaryLee, thanks very much and I second what you said about this season. I like the term little Christmas
We always did the same but from an Irish background.
@@colliecoform4854 I'm with you there, moms family is Italian but Da's is Irish 🥰
Oh thank you very much for this Erik, thoroughly enjoyed it
Have a wonderfully joyous Christmas/Holiday :)
You too!
Love this thank you for posting ❤️
So sad that Christmas has become so commercialized.. Christmas spirit comes with love and the people you surround yourself with, and not in a gift bought from a store. Today's children have no concept of the true meaning of Christmas.. And No! I'm not Amish.. Just old, with lot's of good memories of what the true meaning of Christmas once was. Thank you for sharing..
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank You for Sharing. 🥳