Simple Living (Part 7)
At Christmastime, there are no decorated trees or blinking lights adorning Amish people’s homes. They do, however, make special cookies and candies as part of the holiday activity. Some Amish will string the Christmas cards they receive around a room in their home, or may set out some candles and greenery. On Christmas Eve, the school children put on a program for their friends and family at the schoolhouse, where they share poems, recitations, and songs. The scholars will often exchange gifts with others in their class. On Christmas morning, the Amish gather with their families for devotions, and then the children open their gifts. In the afternoon the Amish get together for a big family meal. If Christmas Day falls near the end of the week, some church districts will hold their services on Christmas morning instead of the usual Sunday service.
What kind of traditions do you celebrate around or on the Christmas holiday?
My family reads the Christmas story from the Bible, and attends our church’s Christmas Eve service. Then, we come home and get into our Christmas Pajamas. I put the baby in the Nativity set, then I sing “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night in German). My Pappy and I used to sing it every year, growing up. I carry on the tradition.
We also each open one gift on Christmas Eve (usually a pair of Christmas themed PJ’s, or a Nightshirt). The rest, we save to open Christmas Morning. Christmas Day, we eat breakfast and open the rest of our gifts. If Christmas Day is on a Sunday, we get dressed and go to church. Then, come home and have a big Christmas dinner. We rotate between PA German food, this year we are having PA German food, and traditional Christmas food.