The Amish, called "The Plain People" or Old Order Amish, originated in Switzerland about l525. They came from a division of the Mennonites or Anabaptists (Re-baptizers). They opposed the union of church and state and infant baptism. They baptized people only as adults at about age l8. Adult baptism was a crime in the l6th century. Therefore, the Amish come from an impressive list of martyrs. They were put in sacks and thrown into rivers in Europe. There are no Amish left in Europe; The Amish were saved from extinction by William Penn who granted a haven from religious persecution in America. Since early colonial days the Amish have lived in the United States preserving their distinctive culture, dress, language and religion in peace and prosperity.
I have been fascinated by the Amish since I was a small child. With the wisdom of adulthood I now realize why. I have Anabaptist relatives on my Mother and Fathers side of the family and a little research has kindled my interest...
In Shipshewana and Napanee in the Northern part of Indiana there is a very large Amish and Mennonite community and today we took off early to visit the area.
The fields are green and dotted with huge white houses and barns. Horses in the yard indicate that the houses are Amish. Little girls in pale pink, blue or green dresses play in the yard and their brothers inevitably wear home made denim strapped trousers of a plain design and a colored shirt... The bowl haircuts are quaint, but don't appear to be done with the finesse of a barber and while it's quaint as a child... it looks a little odd on an adult male....I caught sight of white enamel Maytag ringer washing machines in the back yards and the black buggies with their red reflector triangle command your eye in any scene.
This community is very different from the Amish I have visited in Long Prairie Minnesota.
This week there is a huge auction and flea market... the small town of Shipshewana is positively jumping... row after row of white tents plie their goods for all to share.. the flea market was really interesting and the auction begins tomorrow at 8.00 am with 15 auctioneers working at the same time... can you imagine.... We found a beautiful quilt which is going up for auction.... it has been registered with the Indiana Quilt Register and was made into 1846... Just gorgeous... It has never been washed and is in super condition...!!!!
I photographed everything that moved and had a wonderful time wandering in the sun.
There were products of every description. The amish parked their buggies as we parked our cars... I could glimse young gals resting after a long day having show and tell in their buggies waiting for the adult driver... it was so picturesque.
For four hours I just wandered, and took in the environment and then I braved the traffic and walked across the road to Yoders quilt store....
You have to see this place to believe it...it was extremely busy with what seemed like a dozen or more assistants and thousands of bolts of fabric on display. We English mixed equally with our Amish quilting sisters... while the men sat out on the benches outside and inevitably fell asleep in the 90 deg temps...
That's not all we did today, but I hope it gives you a word picture of out Amish experience.
"I can hardly wish you anything better than seriously considering what you do with your time. Using time well is the greatest wisdom and work of life." -William Penn.
