The Amish live a life that is very different from ours. Do you ever wonder if the Amish celebrate Christmas the way we do? Do they decorate a Christmas tree, bake cookies, or believe in Santa? Some Amish Christmas traditions are similar to ours, while others are different. Some things they do during the Christmas season are making cookies with their family, decorating the inside of their homes with candles and greenery, and having a Christmas meal with their families.
The Amish celebrate Christmas differently from American traditions. They do not decorate a Christmas tree because they like to focus on family and the birth of Jesus. Instead, they decorate their house with candles and greenery. They enjoy making Christmas cards and hand stamping them. An example of a tradition they have is a school gift exchange where they exchange small gifts, such as writing paper or needlepoint kits. On Christmas Day, Amish children perform a Christmas program for their families. During the program the children sing, perform skits, and recite poems. Mostly family members attend these programs, but occasionally they will get to invite their “English neighbors”.
The Amish also celebrate “Old Christmas''. “Old Christmas'' falls exactly 12 days after Christmas and is used as the observance of the Epiphany or “Three Kings Day” when the Wise Men came to Bethlehem to visit baby Jesus. This day for the Amish is used for them as an opportunity to rest and reflect on the significance of Magi visiting and presenting gifts to the Christ child. Christmas is the day Jesus was born unlike Old Christmas which was the day the Three Wise Men came to see Jesus.
Some Amish families look at Christmas as a day of joy and peace when families spend time to exchange love and gifts. Amish Christmas celebrations differ from family to family. While it may seem as if the Amish would live a life that is much different than our own, they are not as different as we think.
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