A Heartland Thanksgiving with the Amish
As we enter the week of Thanksgiving here in the Heartland, we hope this letter finds you well and that you are enjoying the season. The air has turned crisp, the wood piles are neatly stacked, and families are preparing for one of the most cherished holidays of the year. Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, gathering, and reflection, and in Amish communities, it carries a special meaning rooted in faith and family.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Amish homes are filled with anticipation. There is housecleaning to be done, especially if relatives or neighbors are expected. Turkeys are often brined several days in advance to ensure tenderness and flavor, and hams preserved earlier in the season may be brought out for the feast. Children lend their hands by carrying firewood for cooking, while young people help with food preparation and tidying up the home. The kitchen grows lively the day before Thanksgiving, with desserts being prepared alongside daily meals, creating a bustling and joyful atmosphere.
Amish Thanksgiving traditions are both familiar and unique. Like many Americans, families gather around a table filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, and pies. Yet there are differences too. Smaller communities often come together for a large meal, while larger districts tend to celebrate within individual homes. Gratitude is central, with prayers offered to thank God for daily bread and the blessings of the harvest. Some families even encourage children to write lists of what they are thankful for, instilling the meaning of the holiday beyond the meal itself.
One tradition that may surprise outsiders is that in many Amish homes, hunting after the meal has become part of the day. For others, the afternoon may be spent playing board games, singing, or simply visiting with loved ones. While Amish homes are not usually decorated for Thanksgiving, the spirit of the holiday is evident in the warmth of fellowship and the abundance of food shared.
This season also marks a busy time for Amish families who craft baskets. With Christmas just around the corner, the weeks of late November are crunch time. Families devote long hours to weaving, hoping to complete as many orders as possible before the holiday. Because each basket is handmade, only a few can be finished each day, and early orders are a blessing. They give the families the best chance to meet holiday demand and bring joy to as many customers as possible.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Amish families balance the slower pace of farm chores with the urgency of holiday work. Most crops are already in, leaving time to pause and give thanks to God for the harvest. Yet the weaving continues steadily, with the knowledge that each basket will become part of another family's Christmas tradition.
Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers
Here are a few happenings the families dedicated to weaving the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com have shared with us this week.
The Mast Family
Rosa and Phinius Mast enjoyed a laugh recently when their daughter shared a lighthearted story from her newly married life. Many of you will remember her wedding last year, and now she is settling into the joys of married life. One night, she awoke to find her husband kicking in his sleep. After nudging him awake, he explained that he had been dreaming about horses sneaking into his orchard to eat apples. In the dream, one horse kept biting at his knee, and the kicks were his way of chasing it off. The family found the tale amusing, a reminder of how dreams can spill humor into everyday life.
The Swarey Family
The two oldest Swarey boys returned home this Tuesday after several busy days in Wisconsin. They traveled with neighbors in a hired van to help install seamless gutters for six households, a common way Amish families lend their skills to other communities. While staying with relatives, the boys discovered that several acres of field corn stood ready for husking. After long days of gutter work, they joined in the harvest each evening and again on Saturday. Though surprised by the extra chore, they suspected the timing of their visit was no accident. Still, they enjoyed the fellowship and the satisfaction of helping with both work and harvest.
"If you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine!"
— Amish Wisdom
