In the past, Amish quilters used only scraps of material left over from other sewing projects or worn out clothing to create their quilts. For this reason, the colors of the quilts matched the clothes they wore: dark, earthy tones such as green, mauve, blue, and purple. But Amish quilts have changed over the years. Now, it is common for an Amish woman to shop for fabrics specifically for quilts. They will use bright colors and patterns and create eye-catching arrangements.
Last week, I posted about the different types of heating stoves the Amish use to keep their homes warm through the winter. In The Winnowing Season, Rhoda is excited to rebuild her canning business in the new Amish settlement in Maine. After researching how the Amish start and run a business compared to how we as non-Amish start and run a small business, I’ve seen a pattern that at times gives them the upper hand in becoming a success and hanging on to it. At other times those Amish ways work against them—at least for a season.
While visiting an Amish friend one winter, I woke to the gentle creaking of old wooden steps, and I knew my dear friend was on her way to the cellar to add wood to the stove. Her husband was on a three-day hunt, and while he’s gone she’s diligent about maintaining the wood stove so her family stays warm throughout the night and no one shivers when crawling out of bed in the morning.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought a post about how the Amish find a spouse would be a nice topic. Amish typically get married around twenty to twenty-two years of age, but how did they find romance inside their conservative culture? For generations the parents have had traditions in place to help the next generation find their mate.
Now that our many holiday traditions and celebrations are behind us for a while, I thought I’d share a few things with you about how the Amish bring in the New Year. Last week, I shared a bit about the foods that cultures such as the South, the Mediterranean, and the Spanish eat on New Year’s Day. The Pennsylvania Dutch have a unique New Year’s tradition, as well. They enjoy a meal of pork and sauerkraut each New Year’s Day.
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