One of the common questions asked about the Amish community is- Do the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving?
You are not alone if you are curious about how the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving. After all, Amish holidays are known to differ from those of most other cultures, so it would be reasonable to assume that Thanksgiving is no exception.
Yes, Thanksgiving is one of the holidays that the Amish community observes. Thanksgiving is a favorite because of the food.
For them, it is a time to reflect on all the good things in their lives and be thankful. However, most Amish members continue to observe this family and food-centered holiday in a manner similar to the outsiders.
While there are some significant distinctions, the Amish Thanksgiving holiday is relatively similar to modern societies.
The problem is that Thanksgiving falls smack in the heart of their wedding season, which occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This means that many Amish people will be in town for a wedding ceremony on Thanksgiving Day.
However, if they do not have a wedding scheduled on that particular day, they will likely spend the day resting at home or with relatives.
Amish Thanksgiving
Amish families traditionally prepare a large feast on Thanksgiving. However, others have recently enjoyed a large turkey and dressing feast at several weddings. Because of this, people may not be in the mood for a big Thanksgiving dinner.
Amish people traditionally gather with their loved ones for a hearty supper on Thanksgiving Day to give thanks for the season's blessings.
It is customary for the family to congregate at one of the elder's larger homes to cook a feast for everybody to share.
Amish Decorations
Although the Amish people enjoy great foods just as much as everybody else, they rarely decorate their houses for the holidays or fall.
Decorations during the holiday season are frowned upon because they are seen as being out of place in their culture and as a sign of pride.
According to a popular saying, the word JOY stands for three things: Jesus first, you second, and others third.
While Gelassenheit is regarded as the basis of Amish culture, it clashes with contemporary society's robust, aggressive individualism, which promotes and celebrates personal success and individual credit at every opportunity.
In Amish culture, humility and obedience go hand in hand. Pride, a theological phrase for excessive individuality, jeopardizes an ordered community's welfare.
Additionally, Amish educators educate kids that "I" is the middle character of pride. Proud folks exhibit an arrogant mentality, not Gelassenheit.
Oftentimes, they are aggressive, brave, and forward-thinking. That which non-Amish people think of as due recognition for one's achievements is seen by the Amish as a whimpering spirit.
Visitors are greeted by the sweet aroma of freshly cooked pies as they pass through front doors decorated with pumpkins perched on straw bales. Based on the family's taste, some Amish households may decorate their interiors with traditional fall decor such as autumn flowers and pumpkins.
The Amish Thanksgiving Menu
For Amish households, cooking is a woman's domain, and that tradition also extends to Thanksgiving Day.
They thrive in this domain, equipped with an assortment of ingredients, aprons, and measuring cups. Whatever else may be said about the women in the kitchen, their ability to prepare a wide variety of mouth-watering foods is incredible.
In most households, the cooking and baking is the responsibility of the mother, who typically rises early to get a jump on the day. Soon, other females in the home (daughters or daughters-in-law) will join her, with their hands burrowing into the dough as their aprons gather the powdery flour particles that have settled on them.
Often, women prepare the cuisine, which includes turkey, dressing, fresh buns, carrots, corn, and an assortment of veggies. As you can imagine, cooking ample food to host a large Amish household takes a lot of time, so it is not unusual for the women to devote multiple days to cooking and prepping the Thanksgiving food.
At midday, the Amish thanksgiving meal is ready to eat, having been cooked for just a few hours. The time spent peeling, cutting, and slicing veggies, measuring, stirring, and preparing the dessert; simmering, seasoning, and grilling the meat and vegetables are all worth it when they witness their family's grateful faces.
The good meal, however, does not end with the entrée. There are a variety of sweets on the table once everyone has finished their dinner.
Among the most popular Amish thanksgiving recipes are apple pies, as well as cakes, cookies, and brownies. At Thanksgiving dinner, family members and guests are expected to bring a side dish or treat to share with the host. Occasionally, the desert is followed by board games, a moving narrative, and singing.
Since Thanksgiving is a great time to spend with family and friends, people can unwind and enjoy spending time with each other in an entirely different environment.
It is hard to imagine a better way to spend Thanksgiving Day than without having to worry about cleaning up after everyone else! Visitors can enjoy the following activities when they spend Thanksgiving in the Amish community;
Thanksgiving Day Parade
During the Thanksgiving weekend, the Christmas Parade and walk is one of the loveliest of all holiday festivities.
Many cities around the United States kick off the holiday season with festive Thanksgiving parades. On the boulevards and streets, various performers such as marching bands, floats, solo singers, huge balloons, and more may be seen.
This joyous occasion fills the ancient major thoroughfares with the aroma of roasted nuts and a celebratory mood. Greens lighting takes place at Public Square as part of a festive procession that includes marching bands, parades, and vintage automobiles.
Additionally, special events in support of the town's traditional "Food for the Hungry" campaign will take place, as well as train rides and a carousel for children.
While the most well-known and largest parade takes place in New York City, you may find a festival in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, the Southeast, or anywhere between.
Amish Gift Shops
This day is an excellent opportunity to prepare for Christmas shopping by visiting marvelous gift stores.
One can find one-of-a-kind items that are original and true to the region while also promoting local businesses. Additionally, this is a lovely place that is ideal for photographing and viewing the festive decorations!
Do Mennonites celebrate Thanksgiving?
Yes, Mennonites also celebrate Thanksgiving.
The significance is to give gratitude for their many blessings as a country on Thanksgiving Day, which is not really a patriotic festival per see.
Benjamin Franklin best expresses this element of Thanksgiving when he refers to it as a holiday "of public Felicity," when Americans give thanks to God for fully exercising their civic and religious liberty.
Many countries have national days to honor their constitutions, celebrate the birthdays of monarchs, or commemorate the day they were freed from colonial oppression.
The U.S. is not unique in commemorating Independence Day. However, Thanksgiving is a special holiday. Only a handful of other nations have a national day of Thanksgiving.
Traditionally, most of these celebrations occur near the end of the harvest season and are rooted in a time when life revolves around the agricultural cycle.
Thanksgiving is a unique celebration in the United States. We live in a more secular era than the Pilgrims did. However, it would be incorrect to assert that Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, as some do. It is the rarest of religious festivals that all religions may observe.
The Pilgrims landed on our shores in search of religious freedom and independence. All Americans may be grateful that they discovered it on the holiday of Thanksgiving, no matter what kind of religious affiliation they have or do not have.
The American Thanksgiving Celebrations
Thanksgiving reveals a great deal about the character of Americans. It expresses our cultural identity as appreciative, kind, and welcoming people.
It is important to remember that when an American sits at the Thanksgiving dinner or donates their time to a local food pantry, they are part of a long-standing tradition.
This traces its origins to 1621, when a group of Wampanoag Indians and pilgrims gathered for three days to fellowship and share food.
The English settlers' peaceful coexistence with the Native Americans continued a few decades later. However, the ancient Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of how diverse American people have become.
Thanksgiving Day has historical significance for certain Amish communities, while others may opt to ignore this part of the holiday and instead concentrate only on the act of expressing gratitude. Children in an Amish home should know the actual significance of Thanksgiving before they celebrate it.
Amish holidays serve as a calendar for religious festivals and seasons. When viewed through the lens of Amish origins, the concessions are rational means of accomplishing communal objectives. They are not self-contradictory; they sustain fundamental values while allowing for deliberate modernization.
It strengthens the Amish identity while enjoying many of the conveniences of contemporary life. This adaptability enhances the community's economic well-being while also retaining the Amish's commitment.
These holy days are centered on religious traditions, family reunions, and tranquil celebrations rather than on commercial gifts and secular clamor.
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