The Amish live a relatively basic existence, and the majority of people are likely to be unfamiliar with their culture and values.
What the Amish do at night and how they manage to live a happy life without power and the internet is fascinating. Different activities also take place on special days at night or in the evenings, which are unusual but exciting.
Some individuals have the impression that Amish people never relax or enjoy life. The Amish, on the other hand, value both hard work and good rest.
They can finally kick back and enjoy themselves when the workday is over. In contrast to most Americans, who like to go out and do things like go shopping, to parties, or the movies, the Amish prefer to spend their time with family and friends doing things around the house and farm.
What do the Amish do in the evening?
You may be curious as to how the Amish pass time without modern conveniences such as television, radio, automobiles, or smartphones.
The evening routine starts around 4 pm when the house's wife starts preparing a meal for her family. Due to the large families, dinner preparations start early, and by around 5 pm, dinner is ready.
Families have different traditions, but most gather together and say their prayers before eating. After dinner, the children get on with their homework and have some time to play.
The next major task is usually the dishes, which are done by the woman of the house and at times children can help. The family then relaxes for a while as they read or play different games due to the limitations of recreational activities as a result of no electricity.
In an Amish household, evenings are brief; and because Amish do not use electricity, bedtime soon follows. Only recently, some liberal Amish people accepted solar panels.
Otherwise, most use kerosene lamps to provide light at night. In the final hours of the day, a typical Amish family enjoys quality time together, which is a key part of Amish life.
The final task of the day is bathing your children. Most Amish homes have no indoor bathroom or plumbing, and they have to use a washroom instead.
It is generally not easy because most Amish families have an average of seven children, but they are accustomed to it.
When the children get to bed, a couple can settle down in bed together as well because they are early risers and need to have an early bedtime as well.
What Time do the Amish go to Bed?
So, do the Amish people go to bed early? The Amish people can stay up after dark but go to bed quite early.
The common bedtime is usually between 9 pm and 9.30 pm in the evening during the summer and closer to 8.30 pm and 9 pm in the evening during the winter.
The Amish must prioritize rest and sleep because it helps them prepare for the early start to the day, which they spend so much time working on by hand.
Most Amish people begin work at roughly 5.30 am in the morning. They are typically awake and ready to go by 4.45 am. Beginning at the age of 4 or 5, most parents start their children off with chores.
Most of the time, Amish boys help their fathers with various outdoor tasks, while the Amish girls stay inside and help their mothers with household chores.
What do the Amish Wear to Bed?
A lot of Amish ladies sleep in handmade nightgowns. Women's shifts, worn under their day costumes in the 18th century, are also worn at night.
Cotton is the material of choice for most modern nightgowns, while flannel versions are also available. Amish children also dress in cotton nighttime attire when going to bed.
The sleeping attire of Amish males is discussed less frequently, but mostly it involves long linen shirts that males in the 18th century doubled as pajamas at night.
The Amish community has maintained a set of norms for clothing that have altered little throughout the years in terms of cut, color, and fabric.
Also, Check Out: What Do Amish Wear to Bed?
What do Amish Families do on Stormy Nights?
Amish families frequently stay inside on stormy nights to enjoy a game or two together. They like to play card games like Uno and board games like Scrabble and Monopoly.
However, there is no chance of gambling during these games. In the warm summer months, Amish kids often stay out late playing outdoor games that anybody of any age plays.
Sports games are fun, but most of these games are not played in a competitive setting. The Amish reject the concepts of competitiveness and pride instead of emphasizing community and cooperative effort.
Because of this, team sports like softball, volleyball, and basketball are played rather frequently. The youngsters must, however, complete chores that are assigned to them before engaging in these activities.
Are there Nighttime Activities for the Youth?
It seems that Amish adolescents are more owlish than their parents were at that age.
Even though they go to bed at the same hour most nights, young people might remain out late once or twice a week during Rumspringa.
This is the time from around the age of 16 until they get married when an individual is permitted more access to the outside world than they would otherwise be.
Sunday afternoons are reserved for the young people of most families to spend in the church youth group. They spend their time playing volleyball, singing hymns, and eating.
They typically do not leave for home until 10 pm or 10:30 pm at the earliest. In addition, they are permitted to remain out until 12:30 am on Saturday nights.
Amish Dating
It is common for Amish teens to start dating around age 16 and tie the knot between the ages of 20 and 22. The young adults mingle at gatherings, including parties, religious events, and home visits to meet potential dates.
Sunday night singing has become a feature of the community where teens meet for dating. Singings on Sunday evenings are common among the Amish youngsters, and they often take place at someone's house or barn, even if they are from a different region.
Amish children and teens gather around a big table and sing hymns while chatting between songs. Once the singing has lasted until about 10:00 pm, the teens will eat some refreshments and socialize for another hour or two.
A boy who likes a girl will offer to drive her home if she needs one.
What is "Bundling" in the Amish Community?
In contrast to traditional English dating, which can feature dinner and a movie, Amish dates are more likely to involve going on buggy rides or other group activities outdoors.
In more liberal groups, young couples are allowed to go out to dinner in town. After weekdays work and on Saturday evenings, couples can also go on dates.
In an Amish society where divorce is not an option, courtship is treated very seriously. Teens in some Amish villages engage in a ritual known as "bundling," during courtship.
During this ritual, they spend the night together in bed, fully clothed after a date but refrain from sexual activity. While lying in bed, the couples are encouraged to talk to each all night to become emotionally closer.
Some Amish people insist that sharing a bed is integral to the courtship process. In some places, they are even said to be wrapped in blankets by other people and a year later, they get married and can now sleep together with their spouses.
What is Amish Bed Courtship? Click to read.
What do Amish do on Wedding Nights?
Weddings in the Amish community are usually held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at any time in the year as opposed to the old traditions, which only happened in November and December.
Earlier, at a wedding, the reception meal was traditionally held at the bride's home. After they have finished eating their food, the bride cuts her cake and distributes parts of it to her closest friends, who are seated at various tables.
The guests then sing a lot while they eat dinner from noon till 3:30 in the afternoon. After that, they go to the barn to play party games.
Following activities of this nature, they are prepared to begin their supper at five o'clock. This is when each of the "Dutch" boys takes a female by the hand and guides her to the meal.
After that, they sing both during and after supper, which can go on up until nine o'clock, and then they head back to the barn, where they stay up until the early hours of the morning playing games and singing.
Nowadays, Amish wedding nights are not as eventful, and the newlyweds spend the night at the bride's parent's, where they will spend the next day helping to clean.
To conclude, the Amish have a very interesting culture. Many non-Amish may be unfamiliar with the beliefs and practices of the Amish due to the plainness of their way of life.
It is fascinating to learn about the Amish nighttime rituals and how they thrive in the absence of modern conveniences like power and the internet. On special days, the evenings and nights also play host to a variety of unique and intriguing events.
There is a common misconception that Amish people never take it easy or enjoy life. Conversely, the Amish place a high value on both labor and rest. After a long day of work, they may relax and have fun.
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