Christmas Decorating the Amish Way
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Christmas decorations are popping up everywhere! Before October was over, our local Target store was adorned with snowflakes across the entire ceiling, restaurants began to play Christmas music over their speakers, and Starbucks started selling their coffee in red, Christmas-themed cups. Although it is still a bit early to be decorating our homes with Christmas trees, tinsel, and lights, I wanted to share some do-it-yourself decorations that the Amish make.
The Amish don’t have Santa or massive electric light displays; they celebrate the birth of Christ in simplicity and tradition. A favorite tradition among families is creating and sending out Christmas cards. Many families spend the long, dark evenings of fall with craft items spread out over a table. Creativity flows as they use paints, colored pencils, fabrics, buttons, ribbons, and other items to make beautiful and practical crafts.
You can use this idea as a jumping point to create unique Christmas decorations with your own family. If you have Christmas cards from previous years in storage, you can place a string from one wall to another and hang those Christmas cards from the string. As you do, take a minute to reread the names, think of each sender, and share a memory of that person with your children. An evening spent in that manner will stir love and respect for others.
Instead of buying store-made cards this year, try doing like the Amish and make your own Christmas cards to send to friends, neighbors, and relatives. At a hobby or craft store, for just a few dollars, you can purchase packets of fake gems, sequins, or beads, and glue these onto construction paper, along with a personalized Christmas message. Creating unique cards for each person lets them know you are thinking of them in a special way.
There are five winners from the previous blog contest. Each has won an autographed copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells.
Congratulations to ~
Mandy of Tacoma, Washington
Michele of Greenwood, Delaware
Sherryl of Nichols, Wisconsin
Amy of Lansing, Illinois
Linda of Statesville, North Carolina
For your chance to be one of five winners of an autographed copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells, just leave a comment.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
My mom and I love your books and would love to win a copy, especially an autographed copy of “The Sound of Sleigh Bells!” Thank you!
November 9th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
It seems like the Christmas stuff does come earlier every year. I’m beginning to think it will eventually get to the point where it doesn’t go away.
This sounds like a wonderful story for the Christmas season.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I just started reading you books. I am really enjoying them. I would like to win one of your books Thank you.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
“The Sound of Sleigh Bells!”sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.Thank you
November 9th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I read your first 3 books. Loved them. Looking forward to reading the next 2 books. Thanks for the info about how the Amish decorate.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I would love to win “The Sound of Sleigh Bells” I have some of your books and really enjoy them.
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
November 9th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I love your books!!! I would love to win your “The Sound of Sleigh Bells” autographed book!! Thanks for making these contests possible. Laura in Mo.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Your book sounds really cool – thank you for the giveaway!
November 9th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I bet some of the most wonderful things that he Amish make are the edible kind!
Please enter me to win “The Sound Of Sleigh Bells”.
Blessings,
Jill in GA
November 10th, 2009 at 12:31 am
I would love to win an autographed copy of The Sound Of Sleigh Bells.Please enter me.With hard times upon so many people,thank you for giving away books.Keep up the great work.May GOD Bless You.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I look forward to reading your book – please enter me into the giveaway. God bless!
November 10th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
My aunt got me started on your books and I love them! Haven’t had a chance to read your two newest ones, but I hope to soon! I would love to visit an Amish bakery, they are always making something good, the holidays are a wonderful excuse to stock up.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I can’t wait to read your book. Please enter me.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I stumbled upon your books in a local General Store. I love the Amish simple way of life and their ability to practice their lifestyle and religion in this “modern” world. Us “Englishers” have much to learn from the Amish. I look forward to reading your books.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Hi, I am new to the books on the Amish community and absolutely love them.. I just saw your book advertised on a book club and couldn’t wait to look up your website.. I am so anxious to read your books…. and the contest… an unexpected surprise.. Please enter me in the contest.. Can’t wait to read THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS.. thanks for the great reading !!
November 13th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I love your books and with the end of the semester coming into sight, would love to read “The Sound of Sleigh Bells’ during my relaxing break without school!
November 14th, 2009 at 1:34 am
Hello,
I have made some of my own Christmas cards in the past. It is a fun thing to do and the results are so different and unique. I really enjoy anything to do with Christmas. I look forward to your “Sleigh Bells” story.
Enjoy each day,
Nancy V
November 14th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I really enjoy your books I bought the first three you had out and have been trying to win another one, Maybe some day
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
November 14th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea. I have made cards in the past and it seems to slow things down so I can enjoy Christmas a bit more. I love your books! Keep up the good work.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
My mom and I just finished “The Sound of Sleigh Bells”. As always … another one of my favorites.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Hi,
I would love to win a copy of ” The Sound of Sleigh Bells”. My mom & I love your books. As a very modern Mennonite I think it it would be nice to simplify Christmas. However I do make my own Christmas cards and find it a lot of fun. My friends enjoy receiving these and I cherish the handmade cards that I receive in return.
Thanks for a great contest and may you have a blessed and Merry Christmas.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:47 am
The idea of homemade cards was on my mind this year! We also plan on making very basic CHRISTmas decor. We have the real holly everywhere in my small town, so thats for decor, as well as a manger scene. And for gifts, we canned home jams, and I enjoy baking so my dearest friends will get their favorite pie! My husband and I have completly turned around our CHRISTmas’s every year. We stay clear of the craziness this time of year and try to just enjoy our family and friends and focus on the birth of our LORD!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Just started reading your wonderful books – I mean listening as I love Audio and just can’t wait until the next one.. thanks for wonderful books and also the article about making your own Christmas cards as that is so wonderful.. Can’t wait to read “The Sound of Sleigh Bells” Thanks for all you do and Merry Christmas.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I love reading your books. Besides your wonderful writing skills, the Amish are so interesting. Their simplistic lives and their strong beliefs are to be envied. However, my making my own Christmas cards would be a disaster of renown proportions. I’ll leave that to my sister and others who are more talented in that area. (chuckle)
November 17th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
This is my first visit to your blog, Cindy, as my friend Jane Kirkpatrick just mentioned on Facebook that she became your friend. So I decided to ‘meet you.’
I enjoyed reading your blog about the Amish making their own Christmas cards and celebrating the birth of Christ without commercialization. This also gave me an introduction to your writing, and I can easily say that I would enjoy being one of your first-time readers.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:39 am
By the way i love your books no one writes like you. Christmas for are family has always brought us together. expessally my husbands family who all meet at his grand parents house on chistmas-eve for diner & gift exchange but not a ordanary gift exchange. see years past my husbands great grand mother started a tradition that she did not want any one to buy anything for her that she wanted them to make the gifts for her as she would for them . most of the ladies knew how to quwilt & thats what the ladies where work at the others wher baking Making orniments,it put us to the test making differnet things out of wood like puzzles for the kids ,pull toys,patato bins & garbage cans bluebird house (my husbands gradfather loved them bluebirds.)grandpa passed away last year.(heart ) we miss him so but we will sill keep the tradition alive just making the things for x-mas brings us closer together & on x-mas day we all go to church to give thanks & paise to are lord.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
i just finished hope of refuge what a wonderful novel irate you up there with wanda brunstetter and beverly lewis, i’m hooked on amish books and im looking forward to reading the sound of sleigh bells i hope there is more of adas house novels to come. shirley in mo.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Sound of Sleigh Bells is our Women’s Christian Fiction selection for December. Wonderful childhood memories are built in this book. Do you have some discussion questions we might be able to use for our Dec. meeting? Would love an autographed copy if I am fortunate enough to win.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
love your books. once i started reading them it is very hard to put them down.my in-laws have visited an amish commumity.that is what got me started reading your books.i would love to win your book”THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS”please enter me in the contest. blessings
November 20th, 2009 at 12:57 am
There is nothing like homemade decorations. I have made decorations and givin them out as gifts. Taken formula cans painted them and put a Christmas design on them and made candy bouquets. And given them to friends..Even the rural mailcarrier,paperman. They all enjoyed them. And it feels so good to do things homemade as apposed to boughten.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I read a variety of books but always feel drawn to stories about the Amish. I’m not sure why b/c I certainly don’t think I could live as they do. But it does seem so peaceful compared to our hectic, non-Plain lives.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your books and have put the The Sound of Sleigh Bells on my Christmas list. I hope you will have more coming out soon!
Happy Holidays!
Jeannine R
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I would love to win The Sound of Sleigh Bells. I would read it, review it, and share it with other.