Get lost in this great collection of sayings from church signs. Collected in historic and beautiful Lancaster County, PA. These sayings are funny, witty, thought-provoking, and challenging.
Category: Amish Lifestyle
Amish Lifestyle as seen by someone living and working close to them
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Standing on the Corner
Watching all the Girls go by
This was taken in downtown Lancaster City on a beautiful Saturday afternoon near the Central Market. Most likely this Amish gentleman had been working at one of the market stands and was waiting for his ride to pick him up on West King Street.
Perhaps he called up and is waiting on an UBER driver to get him.
I respect their wishes of not having their faces shown in photos and waited for him to look away from my camera. Just another day in Lancaster.
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No Photos, Please
Do Selfies Count?
This was taken in the Lancaster Central Market – while it was closed today (notice that this market stand was covered). I was in setting up a credit card machine for a new customer and tweaking another for an existing customer.
The Amish community generally does not like photos to be taken of their faces – in reference to the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:4-5 – Commandment number two about ‘Graven Images’.
I understand that photos of children and youth are permissible because they have not yet joined the Church.
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Amish Farm Equipment
Mixing the Old with the New
So you’re thinking – “I thought they distanced themselves from ‘technology’ and did their work manually – why are they pulling powered farm implements behind a team of horses/mules? What is the difference with using animals or a tractor – the equipment is still powered!?”
Answer – the traditions and rules of their church.
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Amish Transportation
Double-Parked
Buggies are a very strong and visible example of tradition in the Amish culture. Much like my Olde Order English culture, the horse & buggy takes on the same life as cars. In the Amish youth, the H&B is a symbol – I’m sure some horses lend to more of a muscle buggy than others.
The photo above is a unique sight – I call it the Crossover since it has two opposing seats behind the typical buggy enclosure. Watch for photos of buggy variations I have seen in the Lancaster over the years.
Keep Your Hands to Yourself
The Courtship Buggy adds some accountability to a young couple as they cruise down the road. I came upon this young Amish couple on my way home from church on a cold December. I assumed they were not brother and sister. With temps in the 30’s they had a heavy blanket over them since this buggy is completely open. The young man sits on the right and drives the buggy while the lady gets very close to him to stay warm.
Dating to them is what many of us would refer to as Courting. Traditionally this young man would have discussed his intentions with his own parents before going to the young lady’s father to ask permission to spend time with his daughter. The Amish and Mennonite communities take any level of dating rather seriously.
The Amish Youth Buggy
Amish buggies often show the character of the driver much like our cars do. The typical Amish Youth Buggy often has a bit more flair and character to it than typical one owned by the married Amish adult. This buggy had blue lights along the bottom of the mud flap. I suspect the owner was in the “Youth” category and still sowing his wild oats a bit.
Tractor-Trailer Buggy
This was cruising through the residential area where I used to live.
Buggy Drag Races
The buggy in the rear is drafting the other while getting ready to pull a NASCAR move to pass.
Their ownership of buggies is much like what we had or have. Think muscle cars.
Buggy Pickup
These folks were harvesting their corn.