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Amish Holidays And Customs


Amish Christmas

Where Are the Amish in Pennsylvania?

Where are the Amish in Pennsylvania

Depending on which region of Pennsylvania you are interested in, there are different places where you can go to see Amish culture and traditions. Some of these areas have been designated as Amish heritage towns, while others offer guided tours of an Amish schoolhouse or homestead. There are also some Amish-run museums in Pennsylvania. These offer guided tours of an 1840s Amish barn or homestead, and may contain historical artifacts and memorabilia.

Do the Amish celebrate the same holidays as non-Amish?

Whether or not the Amish celebrate the same holidays as non-Amish is a subject of debate. Although some Amish communities do celebrate minor secular holidays, most do not. They instead take the holidays directly from the Bible.

The Amish celebrate the holidays in a way that is reflected by their faith. The focus is on families and individual people. They do not celebrate saints or heroic cultural figures. They do not believe in miracles or in public proof of divine intervention. They also do not endorse military service.

Christmas is an important holiday for the Amish. They celebrate it twice, on December 25 and on January 6. The focus is on family, giving gifts and enjoying a meal together. They also sing Christmas carols and put on skits. They usually have a church service on Christmas Day. They also exchange Christmas cards with their English friends.

The Amish do not celebrate Halloween. They do not celebrate the Fourth of July, either. They do not observe Memorial Day or Veterans’ Day.

Easter is another important holiday for the Amish. They do not have special church services on Easter. They spend the day in prayer and reading scripture. They also celebrate Ascension Day, which marks the day when Christ defeated Satan. It is also the day the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles.

In some communities, the Amish don’t exchange gifts on Christmas. They may instead exchange special Amish candies. Some Amish families don’t even carve pumpkins. They may decorate a tree or an egg with a pumpkin instead. They may also make special Amish cookies.

Pentecost is also a Christian holiday for the Amish. It is also the church’s birthday. They will observe this on a Sunday. They will cover the appropriate Scripture during the service closest to Easter.

Amish families typically have a large family and spend a lot of time together. The family gets together at the largest home available. Most Amish communities have a church service on Christmas. They may also have a church service on New Year’s Day. The service is usually brief and can be held in a few hours.

Thanksgiving

Having a holiday thrown in the mix is part of the Amish lifestyle, but there are some lesser-known Amish holiday celebrations that you should know about. While most Amish communities celebrate Christmas twice (and more), you may be surprised to find that a few of them also celebrate Easter.

One of the most interesting and fun Amish holidays is Pentecost, which is a day in which the apostles were received by the Holy Spirit. Not only is Pentecost a holy day, it is also the day in which the church officially embarks on its mission of evangelism. Some Amish communities celebrate it with a pork and sauerkraut feast.

The aforementioned Pentecost miracle also has a corresponding day, which the Amish call Pentecost Monday. This day is not as grand as Pentecost Sunday, but it is still a day in which the entire community comes together to share a meal. It is also the day in which the Amish celebrate the miracle of Christmas with their non-Amish families. The following week is a time of relative normalcy, which is something to be savored.

The best way to learn more about the many Amish holiday celebrations is to talk to your friends and neighbors. You may find out that your local Amish community has a more traditional holiday, such as Memorial Day, which is celebrated with a picnic in the park. You may also find out that they have an Amish New Year’s celebration with a pork and sauerkraut feast. Depending on the age of your children, they might get to color an Easter egg. Regardless of what your kids choose to do, you will no doubt be impressed with the Amish way of doing things.

The Amish have also adopted the Thanksgiving holiday as part of their annual celebrations. As an Amish girl myself, I can attest that their celebrations are indeed fun, and the food is fantastic. While you may not get to try their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, you can at least enjoy the tidbits of their cuisine by attending one of the many Thanksgiving dinner parties hosted by the Amish.

Ascension Day

Unlike the rest of the world, Amish communities celebrate Ascension Day, which is the day that Jesus ascended into heaven. It is one of the oldest Christian holidays and dates back to year 68 CE. However, different Christians celebrate it in different ways.

Many Amish communities use Ascension Day to reflect on their faith and their relationship with God. They celebrate this day by spending time with family and friends. They often take a day off from work. This gives them time to reflect on their faith and remind themselves of their beliefs. They may also partake in a church service, or take a break from their everyday activities to enjoy their faith.

The Amish are an Anabaptist group of Christians. They follow a strict set of rules known as Ordnung. These rules are passed on through oral traditions. The Ordnung regulates private and ceremonial behavior. They also maintain certain Christian holidays. Some of these include Pentecost, Ascension Day, and Second Christmas.

Although Ascension Day is not a public holiday, Amish families and communities usually celebrate it on the 39th day after Easter. Ascension Day is also one of the earliest Christian festivals. In premodern Christian Europe, it marked the beginning of the harvest season. Ascension Day was also used to mark parish boundaries.

Ascension Day is also celebrated in Eastern Orthodox churches. This day is marked by the processions that mark Christ’s ascension into heaven. The symbols used in Eastern Orthodox celebrations include a lion chasing a dragon, and Elijah’s fiery chariot. In some churches, Ascension Day is celebrated on Sunday, as well.

In the Amish community, the day is spent with family and friends. They often visit friends and relatives, and participate in a communal meal. Amish women wear aprons over their clothes, while Amish men wear dark coloured felt hats in the winter. They may also participate in a foot-washing ritual.

The Amish also have a tradition of having communion twice a year. Communion is usually held in the Amish’s homes, and is usually held after a light lunch. It is a very long service, and can last for several hours. It may also include a sermon or an ice cream social after the service.

Easter

Besides a nice dinner and plenty of visitors, the Pennsylvania Amish have a few other things going for them during the holiday season. One is baking Easter bread.

This is almost a lost art. In fact, it is not uncommon for Pennsylvania Dutch women to cover their eggs with calico.

The Easter egg is not just a holiday food, it is a cultural and religious symbol. For one thing, an egg is laid by a young chicken. The egg may be golden, red or purple, but the real trick is ensuring that the egg remains intact.

The Easter Egg Tree is a European tradition. It is an outdoor display of branches decorated with colored eggs. It is said to bring good luck to the house. Traditionally, they are carried by singing processions of children.

The binsa-graws egg is another Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. This type of egg is difficult to blow and is eaten by deer. These eggs are hard to find.

The Easter Egg Tree is also the best known of the trinkets of the Pennsylvania Dutch. This small tree was once hung in backyards with empty egg shells. It is believed that it wards off evil.

The Egg Bird is also a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. These whimsical mobiles have paper decorations that fold to create a colorful display. They are also kept in houses throughout the summer. It is not uncommon to see this item in Amish households.

The best part about the Egg Bird is that it is not only a decoration for the home, it also serves as a mobile for the neighborhood. In fact, the egg-sized bird is kept in the house during the summer.

The other tidbit is that the Binsa-Graws Egg is an endangered species. This may be due to the fact that the pith of the egg is eaten by deer, but there is no evidence that it is extinct. It may be that the binsa-graws egg is a mere blip on the cultural radar.

The Egg Bird might be a trinket for Amish children and a novelty for others.

Amish Mock Turkey Recipe


The Amish have several mock recipes from mock turkey to mock apple pie to mock mashed potatoes. Many of these came out of the depression.

When times are tough. or when certain food items are not available, you make do with what you have.

The Amish have several mock recipes from mock turkey to mock apple pie to mock mashed potatoes. Many of these came out of the depression.

Amish Mock Turkey

Mock Turkey Ingredients

  • 2 pounds hamburger, brown in butter
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can cream of celery soup
  • 1 loaf of bread, broken
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together everything and pour into a 9 X 13 casserole dish.
  3. Bake for 1 hour at 350.

Need dessert? I found this tasty mock lemon pie recipe.

MOCK LEMON PIE (Vinegar pie)

  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 1 ¼ cups sugar
  • 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, blend the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, stirring vigorously with a fork. Add the vinegar, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk vigorously for 1 full minute, until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Pour into the unbaked pie crust. Bake until a butter knife inserted in the center comes out clean. About 45 minutes. The pie will be golden brown. 

Nine Distinct Amish Communities You May Not Have Heard Of


9 unusual amish communities

I’ve picked out nine Amish communities each with something about them that makes them distinct or unusual. The Amish are not a one size fits all group. And what I mean by that is that while Amish communities have certain things in common, like the horse and buggy, plain clothing, and Pennsylvania Dutch as a first language, there are often differences between communities. So I’m gonna run through these and give you briefly what makes each of these communities unusual.

Number one, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

This is actually the second-oldest Amish community. It’s not a big community. It only has about a half dozen church districts. What makes Somerset County unusual? Now, most Amish, when they have church, they practice home worship. They don’t build separate church structures. They have church service, which is typically about a three-hour service. Every other Sunday, they’ll have that at a member’s home and that could be held in the basement.

Somerset County Amish

Amish homes tend to have large basements or in another space, in the actual home, or could be held in a workshop outside or even in a barn. That’s typical, for Amish. The Somerset County Amish are among the few that worship in meeting houses. So it’s a very plain structure, sort of resembles the Amish school, you know, has like a front porch. Generally Amish don’t build churches looking at other denominations who build really big and expensive churches. The Amish see that as unnecessary, maybe not practical, maybe not the best use of funds. A few communities developed this tradition of having meeting houses in Somerset County is one of them.

Number two, Adams County, Indiana.

The settlement around the town of Berne is a Swiss Amish community. Swiss Amish have different sort of cultural aspects or customs from kind of the majority of the Amish, which we might call the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish.

One example would of that be that the Amish at Adams County don’t use covered buggies. They only use the open-top buggies. So you need to have an umbrella if the weather looks like rain

Another custom that’s unusual in this particular Swiss Amish settlement community is the custom of yodeling. So this is an old Swiss tradition that the Amish have maintained in America. When do they yodel? One woman said that they tend to yodel whenever they feel it coming on, which may be when they’re working in the garden or doing the dishes. Chad Thompson, a professor of linguistics, pointed out that it tends to be done in groups in this Amish community rather than individually.

So it’s kind of more of a group practice, like a lot of things Amish, so not something you’re gonna see in most Amish communities.

Number three, Milverton Ontario.

So this is the oldest Canadian Amish community by far. It was founded way back in the 1820s, which actually makes it one of the oldest of all Amish settlements. And so this community has some very old traditions that it’s kept. This also includes the buggies without tops, which is similar to, to the Swiss Amish, although these are not Swiss Amish. They have an older style of dress and they’ve also got some specific last names that you generally won’t see in other places like Yancy or Cofer.

Number four, Dover, Delaware.

Why is Dover on this list? Well, I put it here because they have an unusual buggy style. They actually have kind of a rounded side buggy.

You can notice Amish that have moved from this Dover settlement because they’ve started a number of communities in other states and places, including Virginia, Kentucky, and New York. If you come across one of these communities in another state, you can kind of tell that it originated in Dover just by looking at a specific style of buggy.

Number five, Pine Craft, Florida.

Pine Craft Amish on tricycles
Pine Craft Amish on tricycles

Now, there are a lot of things that kind of make this community unusual, but just in the context of buggies, this is probably the only Amish settlement where the Amish here don’t use the horse and buggy. They get around by bicycles or tricycles. The reason is that this settlement is actually essentially located in the city of Sarasota.

This is not a community with farms and you know, big areas of green open land. This is basically a neighborhood of Sarasota. Not a lot of Amish live here year-round, but it gets a lot of vacationers who come from northern states like Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania to spend a week or several weeks here in the winter months.

And there are some people that live here year-round. There are some Amish retirees.

Number six, Pearisburg, Virginia.

This is a community tucked away in the mountains of Western Virginia. What makes this place unique? Well, it’s what you might call a seeker-friendly community, and that means that it is fairly open to outsiders who are interested in joining the Amish, or it has at least attracted outsiders over the years, and it’s pretty friendly in that sense.

When in Pearisburg, be sure to check out the Walker Valley Market
When in Pearisburg, be sure to check out the Walker Valley Market

And one particular aspect that’s quite unusual here is that for visitors, they have been known to provide a live interpretation of the Pennsylvania Dutch Language Service. That’s something that you don’t normally get when you go to attend an Amish church service. So it’s usually in German, or Pennsylvania Dutch. And I’ve heard occasional English thrown in, but 99 plus percent of it is not in English.

Number seven, Garnet, Kansas.

This might be one of the most surprising, if not the most surprising on this list, although number 10 is pretty surprising as well. But in this settlement, members of this community may actually drive cars for work purposes. Now, this is an Amish settlement. It’s one of the more progressive ones, as you might guess. But they don’t own the cars, and they don’t use the car for personal purposes, but they have an allowance there that members who need to drive the vehicles for their work purposes are able to do so.

Now, this exception has occurred in other places and is a very kind of rare exception. The most notable place would be the community of Arthur Illinois. Donald Kraybill and Steven Nolt, discussed this in their book Amish Enterprise. In the mid-1950s, Amish men had acquired driver’s licenses and were driving work trucks.

Garnett, Kansas Amish
Garnett, Kansas Amish (Photo courtesy of www.onlyinyourstate.com)

And that practice grew from that point, although it eventually declined. Quite an unusual one. This is not something that’s common and I would guess this would probably surprise Amish people if you told them that this is something that’s permitted in, in this particular community.

So they’re kind of still holding a line of not owning the cars and not using them for personal purposes, but they’re allowing some kind of, let’s call it practical use for, for work purposes. So you see Amish draw lines when it comes to technology in some interesting places. Sometimes other Amish churches are not going to agree with this. But this kind of underscores the idea that there are many different ways of being Amish within the horse-and-buggy Amish world.

Number eight, Aylmer Ontario.

So a couple of interesting things about this community in Canada. This is the home of arguably the most influential Amish publishing house, Pathway Publishers.

They’re responsible for a number of widely read publications among the Amish and plain people. Best known of those will be Family Life, which is a publication that started in the late 1960s. You’ll find that in Amish households where you have, you have stories that teach morals.

Aylmer, Ontario Amish Buggy
Aylmer, Ontario Amish Buggy

You have people writing in with questions, and issues in their community. Amish consider this to be very wholesome and appropriate reading.

Aylmer’s interesting too because it’s part of what you might consider the reformist Amish who emphasize high moral standards, which would mean being maybe more restrictive on some of the dating practices and courtship practices that might also include, you know, not using alcohol for example, or, or tobacco, while at the same time keeping quite low levels of technology.

Sometimes you have the first part, but also have higher levels of technology and that’s more common in what you’d call the New Order Amish churches, that kind of combination.

Number nine, Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania.

Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania Amish Yellow Buggies
Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania Amish Yellow Buggies

And this is a very small community, also quite old. It’s actually been around since 1924. Kishacoquillas Valley is also known as Big Valley.

What makes this community unusual is the color of their buggies. They’re actually an unusual kind of yellow hue. It’s sort of a brownish-yellow. This is the least common Amish buggy color. The most common Amish buggy color is black. That’s seen in hundreds of communities. While this Is really only seen in this area.

Amish Bakery Double Chocolate Muffins Recipe


Amish Double Chocolate Muffins Recipe

Authentic Amish Bakery Double Chocolate Muffins

In my house, we love chocolate. These muffins are a treat and a half. This recipe is from a small bakery in Berlin, Ohio. It has been cut down to a more practical size for home use.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 box (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter (Directions below)
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla 
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Amish Double Chocolate Muffins
Amish Double Chocolate Muffins Recipe
  1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and pudding mix.
  2. Create a well and add the Amish Friendship Bread Starter, oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
  3. Mix the ingredients well.
  4. Stir in chocolate chips.
  5. Pour batter into cupcake pans lined with baking cups.
  6. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of each cupcake.
  7. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
  8. Allow to cool.

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Ingredients

  • 1 packet active dry yeast (.25 ounces)
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk
Amish Friendship Bread Starter
Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Combine the yeast and water in a bowl. Stir and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  2. In a plastic zipper bag, combine the flour and sugar. Mix well. 
  3. Add the milk and yeast mixture. Seal the bag and squish it around to thoroughly combine. 
  4. Leave the bag out on your counter and consider this Day 1 of the Amish friendship bread’s 10-day cycle. 

Amish Friendship Bread Cycle

  • Day 1: Do nothing.
  • Day 2: Mush the bag.
  • Day 3: Mush the bag.
  • Day 4: Mush the bag.
  • Day 5: Mush the bag.
  • Day 6: Add to the bag 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag.
  • Day 7: Mush the bag.
  • Day 8: Mush the bag. Read the directions for Day 10 to be sure you have all the ingredients on hand. 
  • Day 9: Mush the bag. The batter will start to smell sour by now. Do not worry, it is supposed to.
  • Day 10: use in your recipe

Amish Friendship Bread Tips

  • Always leave the starter at room temperature.
  • Do not use metal utensils or bowls.
  • If the plastic zipper bag puffs up with air, open it and release the air carefully. 

Who Are The German Baptist Brethren? Are They Amish?


Who are the German Baptist Brethren?

Who Are the German Baptist Brethren?

Who are the german baptist brethren

OGBB (Old German Baptist Brethren) and PCBC (Plymouth Brethren Church) are two groups of Baptists that are very different from one another. Each has a very specific set of beliefs, practices, and dress requirements.

Old German Baptist Brethren (OGBB)

Known as German Baptists, these members of the Plain Christian movement believe in traditional beliefs and practices. The Old German Baptist Brethren, like the Amish, emphasize the spiritual experience of living out the Gospel. They reject life insurance, professional salaried ministry, and organized evangelism.

Old German Baptist Brethren began as a division within the German Baptist Brethren in 1881. This division was the result of disagreements on the authority of the Annual Meeting. The more conservative group decided to leave the Old German Baptist Brethren and form a new body. They named it the Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference.

German Baptist Brethren Ladies

The Old German Baptist Brethren emphasize baptism, submission, and traditional beliefs. Members practice baptism by immersion. They also oppose professional salaried ministry and political activity. They practice traditional dress, including long dresses for women. They also do not cut their beards. They use electricity and cars. Their ministers sit at the front of the church and wait for the Holy Spirit to move them to speak.

The Old German Baptist Brethren share a common belief in baptismal regeneration. The ritualized sharing of a holy kiss is a symbol of their distinct community. The ritual also emphasizes the importance of unity among members.

The Brethren are most active in the states of Indiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. They are represented in the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches as having 5832 members in 57 congregations in 1998.

Dunkard Brethren Church

During the eighteenth century, German Baptist Brethren emigrated to the United States. They were a part of the Pietist-Anabaptist movement that sought to reform European state-church systems. It stressed the importance of personal awareness of the consequences of human sinfulness, as well as the process of regeneration. They rejected parts of the Old Testament and a number of creeds.

The Brethren sect established a number of congregations in the United States. Their earliest recorded statement on slavery was in the Annual Conference minutes for 1797 at Blackwater, Virginia. They refused to take Communion from slaves, and barred those who held slaves from Communion.

The Brethren church group includes Old Order Brethren, Dunkards, Tunkers, German Baptists, and Dompelaars. The most conservative of the Brethren are found among the Old Order Brethren and Dunkards. They do not practice lay ministry, and they do not follow creeds or oaths.

The Brethren are a group of conservative Christians who follow the New Testament. They reject parts of the Old Testament and creeds, and they do not take part in war. They also do not own slaves. The Brethren church group was born out of the Anabaptist movement of the previous century, which stressed personal awareness of the eternal consequences of human sinfulness.

The Brethren sect emigrated to the United States between 1719 and 1733. They emigrated in two main groups. Some daughter congregations continued to use German Baptist practices. The Brethren emigrated during a period of religious intolerance in Europe.

Plymouth Brethren

During the 1700s, a small group of German Baptist Brethren began to emerge from a Pietist movement. This was followed by the founding of many new congregations.

The Brethren movement began as a reaction to the growing denominational structure in Europe. They developed a new denominational structure, eliminating the concept of ordination and clergy/laity separation. It was also an attempt to focus on missions, increasing ecumenical involvement and educating young people.

While the Brethren were originally based in Europe, they reached the United States in the early 1860s. They have been active in Central Africa, India, and South Korea. During the early 1900s, they also began to branch out into Latin America.

One of the most common Brethren terms is the Exclusive Brethren, a branch of the movement that has 45,000 members worldwide. They are known for their strict set of rules and belief that the world is run by the devil. They also believe that fellowship means eating out and business partnerships.

Another term used is the Open Brethren, a network of independent local churches that do not have a governing body. They hold gospel meetings in partnership with non-Brethren Evangelical Christian churches. They also have gifted brothers and sisters who lead private Bible studies.

In the United States, there are at least seven separate groups of the Brethren. They are called the Plymouth Brethren in some areas, but they are also known as the Darbyites or Exclusive Brethren in other areas.

OGBB schism

German Baptist Brethren

OGBB and the Avignon Papacy aren’t exactly on the same plane of existence so one tries to make the most of the situation by taking a page from the book of the latter. This is the best time to catch the eagle eyed beast at the bar while you are at it. You might even score a free drink in the process. OGBB is a great time to meet new friends, so bring your A game and you might just win the prize. After all, who knows, you might actually be one of them. A word of caution: if the bar is not your cup of tea, it may be better to leave your wallet at the door. You’re probably on a budget so be careful about the cash you drop. A well dressed host may be a worthy suitor. A well dressed host can make or break the deal. The OGBB is a slick organization and a slick organization is a slick organization.

The OGBB has a rich history with some of the most colorful characters to be found in the greater Constantinople. They are the best and the worst at the same time.

Practice of triple immersion

Historically, the German Baptist Brethren were almost contemporaneous with the Mennonite Brethren. They formed out of a pietistic revival movement in the seventeenth century. These groups emerged from a mixture of pietism and Anabaptist tradition. In their earliest days, the German Brethren were located in German-speaking states in western and southwestern parts of the Holy Roman Empire. They eventually spread into neighboring countries such as Poland, Ukraine, and Latvia.

In the early 17th century, a group of eight people were baptized in Schwarzenau, Germany. They were baptized by triune immersion, which signifies baptism after true faith. These brethren dissented from the Lutheran and Reformed churches. They emphasized simplicity and humility. They believed in the New Testament as an infallible guide for spiritual matters. They also rejected popular Eucharistic practices.

The first Mennonite Brethren baptism was by immersion. A pamphlet was printed that supported immersion. Another Mennonite, Jacob P. Bekker, was one of the first to be immersed. He was influenced by Ann Judson, a Baptist missionary in Burma.

The German Baptist Brethren are also known as “Dunkers.” They practice triple immersion. They are not to be confused with a small, revival movement of Plain Baptists. In the United States, they are most commonly found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. They also hold an annual meeting during Pentecost. They are considered a fellowship today.

In the nineteenth century, the German Baptists began to expand into Ukraine and Poland. They eventually spread into the Baltic region of Latvia. The largest body of German Baptist Brethren remained as the German Baptist Brethren until 1908. In 1908, the largest body of German Baptists adopted the name Church of the Brethren.

Distinctive dress requirements

Among the Plains Christians, the Old German Baptist Brethren stand out. Their emphasis on submission is at odds with the individualistic discourses of Western society.

They also draw heavily on the Pietist legacy. Their homage to the ancients is their emphasis on the process of regeneration. They also believe in direct creation of the earth and heavens.

They also have a love feast. This is not to be confused with the love story, although they do have a love feast. In 1967, Johannes Thalitzer was the pastor of Christ’s Assembly in Copenhagen and initiated contact with several Brethren groups. He felt that each faction was deficient in belief. He later organized a branch of Christ’s Assembly at a love feast with nine Brethren.

The Old German Baptists also have a foot washing ritual. This is not a symbolic ritual, but it is intended to model members’ attitude toward others.

Who are the German Baptist Brethren?
Who are the German Baptist Brethren?

The Old Brethren have a total community roll of 20,000. They have a handful of congregations in about a dozen states, mainly in Pennsylvania. They see themselves as the closest thing to the original Schwarzenau band.

They have two congregations in Pennsylvania. One is located in Shrewsbury. The other is located in Arcanum. They also have two congregations in Ohio. The conservative German Baptist Brethren have 25 members in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. They have 47 congregations in 2002. They also have a mascot, the German Baptist.

Amish Wedding & Courtship Traditions


Amish wedding

Amish Wedding Customs

amish marriage

Whether you are considering an Amish marriage or already engaged, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. These include Courtship, keeping the relationship a secret, and Wedding customs.

Wedding customs

Those who want to get married in an Amish wedding may be surprised to learn that it requires a lot of preparation. This includes making sure that all the people in the community are prepared to take part. In addition, the couple may need to choose a partner from amongst the male and female members of the community.

The Amish marriage process begins in August, when the bride and groom tell their parents that they are engaged. This is a big step in their society, and it allows them to prepare for the wedding.

On the way to a wedding

Once the bride and groom are married, they spend the first months of their marriage getting to know their new family members. This includes visiting them and attending church.

The Amish wedding is a big affair. It includes a ceremony and a big meal. The meal is usually served at noon. The meal includes chicken and stuffing casserole. Creamed celery is a standard side dish. The wedding can be a very sentimental experience to watch.

The Amish wedding is held at the bride’s home. Typically, the ceremony takes three hours. The sermon teaches the newlyweds important knowledge about marriage. The Amish wedding ceremony is only attended by family members.

Amish wedding customs include a big dinner. The meal is served at noon and includes chicken and stuffing casserole. Guests eat in shifts. Some of the Amish communities allow non-Amish guests to attend their weddings.

In addition to the dinner, Amish weddings include a sermon. This sermon is given by the minister and includes a prayer. The Amish have learned that marriage is a lifelong commitment. The minister also poses questions to the couple.

The Amish wedding ceremony is usually held on Tuesdays or Thursdays. The date is published in the church a few weeks before the wedding.

Courtship

Unlike most societies, courtship in Amish marriage is kept a secret. This means that a boy and a girl must wait until they’re sixteen or older before announcing that they are courting.

There are many ways to court in Amish marriage. Generally, a young man will take a girl home and ask her to ride back with him. The girl will usually say yes and then tell her parents that she has a date. The parents might offer a ride home and some extra furniture. The couple might decide to go out for a meal, or just to enjoy each other’s company.

Amish Wedding Customs

The traditional Amish courting ritual involves a buggy ride or two. Flatware and china are provided and beverages are brought along. The couple may also be expected to mingle at church.

The Amish community is very conservative. They believe in keeping their homes clean and well maintained. This includes their front fences. They also like to see a clean front yard.

The Amish church has a strict set of rules, known as Ordnung, that they expect members to follow. It’s also very important to stay in touch with members of the church. If a member breaks one of these rules, he or she could be excommunicated from the community.

The Amish also hold to the notion that divorce is a black mark in the community. The community expects this social stigma to entice forgiveness.

The Amish church also expects the young couple to remain married to each other. They will also be expected to attend church on Sundays and attend family frolics.

The Amish marriage is the pinnacle of their young lives. The community expects the new couple to continue farming in a traditional way.

Meidung

Among Amish, the term Meidung is often used to describe the process of excommunicating an Amish member from the community. This is part of an Amish ritual called Rumspringa. During this ritual, an Amish teenager is encouraged to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sex.

However, the Meidung concept was not limited to Amish. It is also practiced by like-minded groups in Switzerland and the Netherlands. In the past, menno Simmons led a similar group.

The concept is actually very old. It is a practice that dates back to around 300 years. It is still regarded as a valid practice today.

The Meidung concept is part of a larger concept called Ordnung. Ordnung is a system of rules and regulations that governs the Amish lifestyle. It is not a written document but rather an oral tradition that is based on the teachings of the Amish.

There are two main areas of the Ordnung system. The first area is the shunning of outsiders, and the second is the fostering of community. For example, an Amish person may not go to a courthouse or develop a business partnership with an outsider. This is done to avoid interfering with God’s will.

Another example of the Meidung concept is the practice of avoiding certain topics. For example, Amish couples do not engage in physical holding in front of their children. This is because the couple wants to keep their family’s foundation intact.

Another example of the Meidung strategy is the practice of leaving the modern world behind. For example, an Amish person might choose to move to a different community instead of arguing with the state over an issue.

Another Meidung-like practice is the bed courtship process. This is a ritual that takes place during a couple’s courtship. It involves a couple fully dressed, and talking for a long time.

Rumschpringe

During the late teen years, the Amish have a special time of life known as Rumspringa. Rumspringa is a time in a teenager’s life when he or she is allowed to experience the world outside of the Amish community.

Rumspringa is a time of self-discovery. This is a time when an adolescent has the freedom to participate in non-Amish activities, like dating. Many Amish kids go to non-Amish schools, and some of them date non-Amish members.

Rumspringa can last for several years. It is believed that each youth must experience life outside of the Amish community before they can make a decision to join the church. In the end, most adolescents decide to rejoin the Amish church.

Rumspringa is the first time that an Amish adolescent leaves the Amish community. It is a time of self-discovery for an Amish child, and many parents overlook this behavior.

Rumspringa is a period of time when Amish youth are allowed to do things outside of the community, such as dating and socializing with friends and relatives. However, the behavior is generally furtive.

The Amish do not allow their young people to engage in sexual relationships with non-Amish people. They also do not allow their youth to participate in activities that are prohibited by the Amish community.

While many Amish parents are concerned with their teens’ behavior, they do not necessarily enforce strict rules to keep their teens from doing things that are sinful. However, many parents do expect their teens to return to church after the time spent in Rumspringa.

During Rumspringa, many Amish youngsters go on wild adventures. Boys are allowed to drive automobiles, girls are not. They may party, drink, and visit neighboring towns.

Keeping the relationship a secret

Keeping a relationship secret may seem like a good idea at the time. But in the long run, it can be damaging. When you are unsure of your feelings, it may seem like a good idea to keep the secret until you’ve figured out if you want to remain in the relationship. This can lead to a situation where you don’t enjoy the relationship and decide to walk away.

Amish Wedding Customs
Amish Wedding Customs

Keeping a relationship secret may also be an attempt to protect the relationship from negativity. Keeping a secret could also be a sign that you’re not ready for a relationship. If you have just left a relationship, you may be apprehensive about starting a new one.

It’s not uncommon for Amish couples to keep their relationship a secret. They may not even announce the engagement until a few weeks before the wedding. Traditionally, weddings are held later in the year after the harvest. But now, they are held year round.

There are many things you can do to keep your relationship secret. One of the most important is to pray. When you pray, it may be a good idea to ask for wisdom. You can also make a commitment to not lie, play games, or run around.