Amish Country Christmas Traditions & Customs
The Christmas traditions in Amish Country are full of old-fashioned customs and activities that keep the holiday season alive. Christmas is a special time for many of us, but for the Amish, it’s a chance to come together and celebrate their culture. Whether you live nearby or plan on visiting one day soon, you won’t want to miss out on experiencing these unique holiday traditions for yourself! From candlelit decorations to special meals shared among family members or friends, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience! Let’s take a look at some of these unique holiday traditions.
Feasting on Special Treats
The Amish are well known for their delicious homemade treats like shoofly pies and molasses cookies. During the holiday season, these treats become even more decadent! A typical Amish Christmas dinner includes ham or roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, noodles, vegetables, bread with butter, cranberry sauce and homemade desserts like apple dumplings or pumpkin custard pie. Delicious!
Candles Instead of Electric Lights
One thing you won’t find in most Amish homes during Christmas time is electric lights! Instead of stringing up lightbulbs around their houses (which goes against their beliefs), they use handcrafted decorations made from candles or oil lamps to bring extra cheer into their homes during this special time of year. This only adds to the charm and warmth of the holiday and creates an atmosphere of peace and relaxation.
Traditional Amish Gift Giving
Gift giving is an important part of Amish holidays as well. Gifts tend to be handmade and practical things like clothing or tools rather than toys or gadgets like you might see in other households. They also use gift exchanges as a way to give gifts without single people out. This way, everyone’s contribution is appreciated equally! Instead of being wrapped in brightly colored paper they are often encased in simple cloth bags that can be used over again each year. Traditional Amish families are very environmentally conscious, and try to avoid waste in everyday life as well.
Branches Instead of Christmas Tree Decorating
The Amish typically do not put up traditional artificial or real trees for decoration during the holiday season. Instead, they decorate evergreen branches and place them in baskets at each window of their homes. These branches are decorated with paper stars, ribbons, popcorn strings, and other festive decorations that can be easily removed after the holiday season has passed. This helps to keep with their more simplified approach to life while still embracing seasonal cheer!
Christmas Eve Services
Christmas Eve services are an important part of Amish tradition. These special services include readings from the Bible, traditional hymns, and sermons related to Jesus’ birth. Following the service, everyone gathers together in a large room where they share stories and memories of Christmases past. Afterward, they break bread together, which is a symbolic gesture that signifies unity within the community.
Want to Spend Christmas in Amish Country?
Christmas in Amish country is full of beautiful traditions and special activities that help keep the spirit of the season alive all year long! From delicious food to decorating evergreen branches instead of trees, Christmas traditions in Amish Country will leave a lasting impression on you and your family. These humble and unique practices remind us that no matter where we come from or what religious faith we follow, this time of year can be filled with joyous celebration if we take part in it together. We hope you enjoyed learning about some of these unique customs from Amish country! Happy Holidays from AmishView Inn & Suites!
FAQs
The Amish make plenty of homemade cookies and candies, and some include a Christmas pudding (a cream cheese mixture, layered with red and green gelatin) for Christmas dinner. But not all Amish celebrate with a meal on Christmas day. Some Amish devote December 25th to fasting and prayer.
What are Amish Christmas traditions? ›
The Amish make plenty of homemade cookies and candies, and some include a Christmas pudding (a cream cheese mixture, layered with red and green gelatin) for Christmas dinner. But not all Amish celebrate with a meal on Christmas day. Some Amish devote December 25th to fasting and prayer.
What do the Amish get for Christmas? ›
So while they aren't opposed to gifts, don't give lavish gifts to Amish children 'from Santa'. Board games, books, stationery sets, art supplies, or even scented candles are simple yet fantastic gifts for your Amish friends and their families.
Do the Amish put up Christmas trees? ›
There are no Christmas trees, electric lights, or Santa Claus in Amish homes. Instead, they focus on the religious aspects of Christmas and spend time with family and friends. They also don't exchange presents that are flashy or materialistic.
Do Amish send Christmas cards? ›
Families also exchange some small gifts – and some send Christmas cards, often to their “English” friends. Christmas card making is a very popular tradition – adults & children make handmade “stamped” Christmas cards – some of them are now even sold in Amish stores.
What is a typical Amish Christmas dinner? ›
Amish families typically enjoy familiar favorites such as roast turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, casserole, homemade bread, and jams. Cookies and pies will almost certainly be on the menu along with eggnog and cider.
Do Amish people have social security numbers? ›
While the Amish are governed by the law, they don't want to have social security numbers. However, they do get one when they join the church as an adult. Because the Amish come from the Anabaptist tradition, they believe that you should be baptized as an adult when you're fully able to consent.
Do Amish believe in Jesus? ›
The Amish believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and would be a part of the protestant stream of theology. They emerged from the Anabaptists who began in the early 1500's. The Anabaptists, meaning re-baptizers, broke from the Catholic Church over infant baptism among other things.
What religion is Amish? ›
As a Christian church they follow the basic tenets of Christian faith; however, they emphasize adult baptism, simplicity, community, separation from popular culture, the separation of church and state, and pacifism. Their roots reach back to the Anabaptist movement in 1525 at the time of the Protestant Reformation.
Do the Amish drink alcohol? ›
Alcohol consumption isn't prohibited in all Amish communities, and neither is it encouraged. It doesn't play a big role in Amish youth culture, either. However, it often becomes more of a feature during Rumspringa.
While they may refer to outsiders as "English," they are more than willing to accept gifts from those outside their community. If you're seeking a meaningful gift that captures the essence of Amish craftsmanship, look no further than Amish Baskets.
Do the Amish celebrate birthdays? ›
Until they reach the age of 16, Amish kids celebrate their birthdays with cakes and gifts and, like most kids across the United States, the Amish have fun parties. Adult birthdays are a more modest celebration with small gifts and usually an intimate gathering of friends and family.
What do Amish call Christmas? ›
Christmas season is here, and for most of the world, the holiday is celebrated on December 25. However, the Amish celebrate what's called 'Epiphany' or 'Old Christmas' on January 6 — but why?
Can Amish people use debit cards? ›
Amish members are permitted to use non-Amish banks and some churches allow the use of debit or credit cards.
Do Amish give birth at home? ›
Amish Birth Culture
Members of this faith-based community typically practice home births, which are performed without modern medical interventions such as epidurals or pain relief medications.
Why is Jan 6th called Old Christmas? ›
January 6th is known as Old Christmas, a day originally designated for celebrating the birth of Jesus under the Julian calendar. The shift to the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in the late 1500s moved Christ's birthday to December 25th.
Why do Amish have second Christmas? ›
Second Christmas – the day after Christmas – is when the Amish observe what we might consider a more traditional Christmas. It is a time for visiting family, small gift exchanges, and enjoying good food and fellowship. Additionally, some Amish communities will celebrate “Old Christmas” on January 6th.
What traditions do the Amish have? ›
Their belief is that God has a personal and abiding interest in their lives, families and communities. Faith-based Amish traditions include wearing plain clothing, living in a simple manner and helping a neighbor in need.
