Simple Joys in an Amish Community
Warm greetings to you from our Amish community here on the Iowa and Missouri border. As we reach the last Sunday before Christmas, the Heartland has given us quite a week. Temperatures climbed far higher than anyone expected for December, then dipped below freezing again on Thursday night when a strong wind pushed in a cold front. The mud froze solid, only to return when the warm spell came back. Now they are even predicting the possibility of sixty degrees on Christmas Day. It has been a week of changing skies and changing coats, but the families here continue preparing for Christmas in the steady, familiar ways they always have.
Christmas in an Amish home is a gentle and unhurried time. If Christmas morning does not fall on a church Sunday, many families allow themselves the rare treat of sleeping in. Chores still come first, of course, but the morning moves at a slower pace. A leisurely brunch often replaces the usual early breakfast, giving everyone a chance to sit together before the day unfolds.
In a season when the outside world can feel busy and loud, the Amish prepare their hearts for Christmas by slowing down on Sundays and holidays. They set aside time to rest, read scripture, and visit with family. This quieting of the mind and home is one of the ways they keep the meaning of Christmas at the center.
Children experience the joy of Christmas in simple but memorable ways. Many Amish schools hold Christmas programs in which scholars sing songs and recite poems for their families, a tradition widely observed in Amish communities across the country. Names are drawn for a small gift exchange, and the children look forward to it for weeks. One Amish adult shared that her most memorable childhood Christmas was the year she received a homemade pair of mittens. That memory has stayed with her for decades, a reminder that the smallest gifts often become the most cherished.
Music is woven into many gatherings this time of year. Families sing together when they visit one another, and school programs are filled with Christmas songs. Amish communities in other regions also continue the old tradition of Christmas caroling, sometimes traveling from home to home to share songs with neighbors.
Decorations remain simple. Traditionally, Amish homes are not decorated for Christmas, although some communities exchange Christmas cards or hang greenery. The focus stays on people rather than things.
Church services on Christmas Day vary from district to district. Whether a district holds church often depends on how many families will be traveling. If many are away visiting relatives, the service may be postponed. When church is held, the day is spent reading scripture, sharing a meal, and visiting.
Food is always part of the celebration. Christmas Ribbon Salad is a favorite at church potlucks, and extended families often gather for a large lunch. Games may follow in the afternoon, along with homemade candies and party mix. In some Amish communities, the day after Christmas is known as Second Christmas, a time for visiting friends and neighbors and sharing more meals together.
Handmade gifts remain an important part of the season. Mittens, aprons, dresses, clothespin bags, and other practical items are often sewn or crafted at home. One Amish woman shared that the most meaningful gift she ever received was a stovetop juicer given to her when she was first married. She still uses it today, decades later.
Gifts are kept simple and within a modest dollar amount. The Amish believe it is the thought that matters, not the price. What they hope their children remember most is the togetherness of the season. As one Amish person said, where there is love, there is God.
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 Yoder & Swarey Families This week brought a bit of Christmas cheer to the Yoder and Swarey children when Tina, a local driver who helps several Amish families, made her schoolhouse rounds dressed as a Christmas tree. She wore a bright yellow star on her hat and had plastic candy canes hanging from her green costume, which delighted the scholars the moment she walked in. Each child received a small bag filled with peppermint balls, candy canes, gummy bears, and peanut butter cups. Tina stayed long enough to hear the Yoder children and their teachers sing "Here Come the Wise Men" before heading on to the next schoolhouse with her jingling costume and cheerful spirit.
The Borntrager Family
The Borntrager home has been lively these past few weeks with a visiting cousin who has been recovering from her earlier mishap with a ladder. She has been feeling well enough to help around the community. This week, she spent time at an uncle's home that needed repainting after a small house fire left smoke stains on the walls. While painting, she lost her footing and tumbled a few feet, sending paint across the wall, the floor, and unfortunately into her hair and down her dress collar. She laughed later while telling the story and said she hopes she has met her quota of falls for the year.
"The real secret of happiness is not what you give or what you receive, it's what you share."
— Amish Wisdom
