As might be expected, Amish Christmas customs are simple, oriented to
the family and the religious meaning of the holiday. So, Amish children
don’t visit Santa Claus in the store. There is no lavishly decorated
Christmas tree in the home. And strings of colorful electric lights do not
grace the front of the Amish house. But the making of special cookies and
candies is certainly a part of the holiday activities. Greens and candles
may decorate some home interiors. School children often pick names and
exchange small gifts, such as writing paper or a needlepoint kit. Families
usually exchange some small gifts as well. Some Amish also send Christmas
cards, often to their "English" friends.
The Christmas church service may or may not be held on December 25th,
but both Christmas and the following day, sometimes called "second
Christmas," are holidays for the Amish. This second day is usually
one of relaxation or visiting others. Christmas dinners are a special part
of the celebration, These are usually large meals, not unlike those served
at weddings, and various groups beside the family will hold get-togethers,
such as single women, teachers, and others of like interest. These
gatherings may continue into January and February of the New Year.
One of the highlights of the Christmas season, for children and their
parents, is the Christmas program held in many of the one-room schools.
Beforehand there is much rehearsal and perhaps some simple decorations
made by the children for the school. At one Amish school, children worked
on making a quilt showing the school and eight apple trees, for the eight
grades. Each tree had an apple for each student in that grade, along with
his or her name.
On the day of the presentation, carriages arrive and parents file
anxiously into the room. Some, of course, may have more than one child
attending in grades one through eight. Stories, plays, and songs are
filled with humor and messages of the meaning of the season. And this is
one of the few times you will ever see Amish children on a
"stage" or "performing for an audience."
For non-Amish visitors who may be invited to enjoy one of these
presentations, it is a memorable experience indeed, since most of the
program is in English rather than the Pennsylvania German dialect.
A few years ago, I discovered an interesting book in an Amish bookstore
titled "Getting Ready for Christmas." This book was filled with
"Christmas plays, poems, and songs suited for Amish schools." An
Amish lady, Emma Lapp, collected the materials included, and the typing
was done by a wheelchair patient, who "will get a percent of all the
books sold."
The Christmas programs usually begin with a welcome, sometimes by one
of the younger "scholars." Here is a sample from the book....
I’m glad it isn’t size and weight
And age that counts today,
‘Cause then I might not have the chance
To stand up here and say...
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
While stories are often about their non-Amish neighbors, and may even
mention Santa Claus and Christmas trees, clearly this is not what the
season represents. Some of the dialog from the plays suggests the morals
behind the stories...
"Sometimes the gifts you make bring more happiness than anything
you can buy."
"Giving and making others happy is the best part of
Christmas."
"The best gift you can give is simply called love."
Here are some sample selections from the
book, beginning with one of the many poems that might be heard:
This Christmas season let us try
To do some golden deeds,
To carry someone’s burden,
To help someone in need.
There are always those who need us
As we journey on life’s way,
And the friends we win by helping
Make us richer every day.
So when you see a saddened face
As Christmas time draws near,
Do your best to lift the load
And spread a word of cheer.
In this selection, "Christmas Bees," imagine the seven
children walking to the front of the classroom, each holding a bee-shaped
"shield" with a word on it. They begin by reciting in unison:
Bees can sting, oh, this is true,
But bees can make good honey, too,
And that's the kind we have for you.
Now each child holds up a word and recites a verse about his or her
"bee..."
Be REVERENT in spirit low, at the manger lowly;
And catch anew the vision fair of the Christ Child holy.
Be GENEROUS, give all you can, then give a little more;
Be sure to give more largely now than you ever gave before.
Be THOUGHTFUL of the people who are lonely, old, or sad;
Be thoughtful of the children, too, and help to make them glad.
Be READY quickly to respond to Christmastime appeals;
Be quick to give to friends afar or for the needy's meals.
Be UNSELFISH --- all self-seeking with abandon cast aside;
Be unselfish --- that's the keynote of the happy Christmastide.
Be HOPEFUL for the best in life, for hope has wondrous worth;
It was to bring hope unto men that Christ came down to earth.
Be APPRECIATIVE for great riches of Christ and of His love,
And of all the blessings from our Father up above.
Oh, may these "bees" with you abide,
All sweeten well your Christmastide.
This poem, "Ten Little Candles," is to be presented by ten
children, each with a lighted candle. Each recites a verse, blowing out
his or her candle at the appropriate time...
Ten little candles, Jesus bade them shine,
But selfishness just snuffed one out, and there were nine.
Nine little candles, one without a mate,
Bad companions came along, and then there were eight.
Eight little candles, doing work for heaven,
"I forgot" sat down on one, and then there were seven.
Seven little candles, all with blazing wicks,
Someone cried out, "Goody Boy," and there were six.
Six little candles, all of them alive,
But one was tired of playing, and then there were five.
Five little candles, once there were more,
Sunday baseball fanned one out, and then there were four.
Four little candles, bright as bright could be,
But one of them just didn’t have time, so then there were three.
Three little candles, could one of them be you?
That one gave up going to church, and then there were two.
Two little candles, our story’s almost done;
"I’m too small, no use," one cried, and then there was one.
One little candle, left all alone,
It kept on burning by itself, and oh how bright it shown.
Brave and steady burned the flame, until the other nine,
Fired by its example, once again began to shine.
(Now the child with the remaining candle lights the other nine, and the
children exit singing, "This Little Light of Mine.")
Following is part of a poem entitled "Christmas Recipe..."
Take a bit of cheerfulness,
A pinch of laughter, too.
Next take a cup of thoughtfulness,
And stir them through and through.
Now to this add tranquility,
A verse of "Silent Night,"
That ever quiet we may be
When God sends his holy light.
Set aside a moment while you go
For spices, herbs, and pine,
For music, fun, and candle glow,
A star that was the sign.
Then mix and stir and fold again,
And add some mistletoe,
A bit of faith and love and then
Into an oven your cake must go,
Where warmth and affection will combine
To make this cake come true.
Garnish with happiness so fine
Enough for me and you.
Cut a piece, but save some, too,
For each day of the year.
Serve with a prayer of peace on earth,
A heavenly Kingdom near.
In keeping with the focus of the holiday, some Christmas songs and
carols are sung. Sometimes new words with a religious meaning are given to
secular songs (such as "Jingle Bells" or "Up on the
Housetop"), and even traditional carols may be given new verses,
especially for the children. Here is a re-working of "O Little Town
of Bethlehem..."
O little Inn of Bethlehem
How like we are to you;
Out lives are crowded to the brim
With this and that to do.
We’re not unfriendly to the King,
We mean well without doubt;
We have no hostile feelings,
We merely crowd Him out.
The parents, of course, respond enthusiastically to the children.
Finally, after all the songs and short skits, the program concludes...
Now that our program’s over,
I came to say good-bye,
And what I feel like doing,
Is heave a great big sigh.
Take our mistakes as kisses;
No harm was meant by them.
I hope you did enjoy the day
So you will come again.
Amish Country
News Article by Brad
Igou
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