So today we've decided to do the Amish sight seeing stuff today. After breakfast we went to an "Amish Village" ... I use quotes because although real, this village is more of a showcase rather than a real working Amish house or farm.
We started off with a tour of an old Amish home ... apparently this one is authentic - was perhaps even used at one time. The tour was very interesting - admittedly I am quite ignorant of the ways of the plain people (there are three groups here in Lancaster PA: Amish, Mennonite, and the Brethren). What was fascinating was to learn about their culture - realizing that they're not backward nor primitive ... just quite dramatically different.
This is a typical stove - it's gas or propane ... not wood burning. The lamp is movable, with wheels, and is kerosene fueled.
Keeping with the kitchen theme ... this is a cupboard and the sink. The green shades are used in the summer time to keep the sun out ... they don't use air conditioning, so keeping the hot sun out during the summer is important.
An array of Amish clothing ... most of these were of the more formal type - when going to church services. The tour guide explained all of the details and nuances ... like the shirts are only to be of single color - no patterns, stripes, florals, checks, etc. - and that there aren't any reds or yellows. Simple, simple, simple of course being the hallmark of it all.
Examples of outerwear ... the long item is the woolen shawl/cloak that a woman would wear outside. It is apparently folded and wrapped several times. The jackets are for the boys/men (as are the straw hats, of course).
Here we began our tour in the "good room" which would be akin to a living room. This is set up as though for church services. I did not know that Amish have no formal church buildings. They have church in their homes - each family hosting church at least once per season/year. So, the family would have to move out all of the big furniture pieces and bring in these simple (and not too soft/comfy) benches.
Church services go on for four hours ... ugh!
An example of a bedroom ... these beds were of rope tied and woven to the frame ... according to our tour guide, today's Amish use box springs and mattresses just like we do.
We started off with a tour of an old Amish home ... apparently this one is authentic - was perhaps even used at one time. The tour was very interesting - admittedly I am quite ignorant of the ways of the plain people (there are three groups here in Lancaster PA: Amish, Mennonite, and the Brethren). What was fascinating was to learn about their culture - realizing that they're not backward nor primitive ... just quite dramatically different.
This is a typical stove - it's gas or propane ... not wood burning. The lamp is movable, with wheels, and is kerosene fueled.
Keeping with the kitchen theme ... this is a cupboard and the sink. The green shades are used in the summer time to keep the sun out ... they don't use air conditioning, so keeping the hot sun out during the summer is important.
An array of Amish clothing ... most of these were of the more formal type - when going to church services. The tour guide explained all of the details and nuances ... like the shirts are only to be of single color - no patterns, stripes, florals, checks, etc. - and that there aren't any reds or yellows. Simple, simple, simple of course being the hallmark of it all.
Examples of outerwear ... the long item is the woolen shawl/cloak that a woman would wear outside. It is apparently folded and wrapped several times. The jackets are for the boys/men (as are the straw hats, of course).
Here we began our tour in the "good room" which would be akin to a living room. This is set up as though for church services. I did not know that Amish have no formal church buildings. They have church in their homes - each family hosting church at least once per season/year. So, the family would have to move out all of the big furniture pieces and bring in these simple (and not too soft/comfy) benches.
Church services go on for four hours ... ugh!
An example of a bedroom ... these beds were of rope tied and woven to the frame ... according to our tour guide, today's Amish use box springs and mattresses just like we do.
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