When the Clocks Jump Ahead

As early March settles into the Heartland, the community is feeling grateful for the moisture that finally arrived this past week. The farm ponds that sat low through last year are beginning to rise again, and there is a quiet hopefulness in the air. Spring is not here yet, but it is close enough that people are watching the sky a little differently, noticing how the light stretches just a bit longer each evening.

We will be taking a short break from our education series as we move toward Easter and Good Friday, since this season brings its own set of traditions and stories within Amish life. We will return to the schooling topics after the holiday. For now, this week offers a chance to talk about something that always stirs conversation in Amish homes at this time of year. Daylight Saving Time, known in most Amish communities as Fast Time.

There are stories in every community about the confusion Fast Time can bring. One family remembered moving to a new district and not realizing that the school followed Daylight Saving Time even though the church did not. Their son was late on his very first day. Another woman recalled arriving at the phone shack for a scheduled call only to realize she was far off the intended time. One couple once hitched up for church before realizing they would arrive almost an hour late. They turned the horse around and headed back home.

The way Amish communities handle Fast Time varies across the country. Some districts follow it fully, especially those with regular interaction with English neighbors, businesses, or drivers. Others keep their clocks set to what they call slow time and only adjust them when making appointments. Some families choose not to change their clocks at all, usually those with little need to coordinate with the outside world. This variation is reflected across Amish regions. The decision to observe Daylight Saving Time often comes down to how much a community interacts with the broader world and how much it wishes to maintain a traditional pace that follows the natural light rather than the clock.

Even in communities that do follow Fast Time, the adjustment touches daily life in small ways. Animals do not understand clocks, so the horses may not be waiting at the gate at the new feeding time. Evening chores feel easier once the daylight stretches, and families appreciate being able to feed animals without relying on their battery-powered headlights. Children enjoy staying outside longer, and parents notice how the extra light changes the feel of early-spring evenings.

The Amish relationship with time has always been shaped more by nature than by the clock. Many Amish see time as something experienced rather than controlled, and their days follow the rise and fall of the sun more than the numbers on a dial.

Still, Fast Time brings its own set of challenges. Coordinating with English drivers can be confusing when one side of a community changes clocks, and the other does not. Families who do not observe the change must constantly translate between two systems. And for those who do adopt it, the early mornings can feel especially early for a week or two.

Yet, there is also something hopeful about this shift. Longer evenings mean more time outdoors, more time to check on the garden beds that will soon be turned over, and more time to enjoy the first signs of Spring. Even though the clocks move ahead before the season truly arrives, the change reminds everyone that warmer days are coming.

As we move toward Easter and Good Friday, the community feels the familiar pull of the season. There is a sense of preparation, both practical and spiritual. The days are still cool, but the light is returning, and with it comes the quiet anticipation that always marks this time of year.

Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers

Here are a few of the most notable moments from the families who weave the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com, shared with us this week.

The Swarey Family

The Swarey family shared a story that brought a good laugh to their home last Sunday. Their district's bishop, who is known for acting quickly when something needs doing, had ordered a new mattress during a President's Day sale. When a message came through the community phone saying it would be delivered that afternoon, he wasted no time dragging the old one to the burn pile. A few hours later, another message arrived saying the store was sorry, but the mattress they thought was in the warehouse was not actually there. Now he is waiting on a new delivery date and sleeping on a temporary setup until the mix‑up is sorted out.

The Borntrager Family

The Borntrager girls enjoyed a pleasant afternoon on Thursday when several ladies in the district gathered for a comfort knotting. As they settled in, a few mentioned that they were not well-practiced at making a proper-looking square knot, so they focused on stitching while the more experienced hands tied the knots that hold best over time. They shared a potluck lunch of pizza, casserole, homemade cheese curds, deviled eggs, and a spread of desserts, including tapioca with fruit, yogurt parfait pudding, Oreo cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and coconut cream pie. After the first comforter was finished, some ladies worked on handsewing they had brought along, while others completed the second comforter. A few of the younger girls made handmade cards. Both the comforters and the cards will be given to two young teachers in the community as a thoughtful surprise.

"The fight starts when you hit the other fellow back."

— Amish Wisdom