TRAVEL THEME: TRADITION ? Francine In Retirement

TRADITIONAL AMISH BUGGY AND HOME

While visiting the Amish country in Pennsylvania and Ohio I had the fortune to see an Amish buggy and visit inside an Amish home were we were served a wonderful meal. ?Below are the photos of that experience.

AMISH BUGGY

The Amish buggy is a common sight along the country roads of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania and in the nearby state of Ohio. ?Although the?Amish religion?allows the Amish people to ride in automobiles, as well as buses and trains, they are forbidden to own one. ?In fact, of all the worldly possessions available, the car is considered the most dangerous to the unity of the community and the purity of the culture. ?It is believed that car ownership would lead to the breakdown of the Amish community by opening the floodgates of social and cultural change. ?Instead, the Amish use horse-drawn carriages or wagons for local transportation. These horse and buggies tend to travel at an average speed of 5 to 8 miles per hours. Since the Amish rarely travel very far distances, this leisurely speed is not a problem. ?In fact, because the horse and buggy is so limited compared to the automobile, the people are more inclined to remain within the confines of their family and community, rather than outside of it.

AMISH HOME

Simplicity as a Virtue?

Although modest and simple, the typical Amish house reflects the importance of the family, daily work, and humility. ?Amish homes are usually large with two stories since many Amish families consist of six or seven children. The homes tend to be plain and are usually painted white, green, blue or brown which are the colors of nature. ?Amish farmhouses tend to have double or triple dwellings to house the grandparents. Traditionally among the Amish community, adults retire from active farming when they reach their fifties. ?When they do this, they move into an extra house that has been built on the land. ?A married son or daughter then takes over the main house along with the primary responsibilities for the farm.?

INSIDE THE AMISH HOME

Everything within the house is functional. To preserve the religious value prohibiting pride and vanity, pictures and photographs are not hung on the walls for decoration. ?Amish furniture is well-made and sturdy but modest in design. ?Curtains, shades, and quilts may feature colorful designs but are also modest and simple. When designs are used, typical motifs tend to involve depictions of nature such as doves, roses and trees. ?

As part of the Ordering and the tenets of the?Amish religion,?electricity is not used within Amish houses. ?Instead, alternate means of energy are used. ?For instance, in Amish kitchens refrigerators and stoves are often powered by various types of natural, propane or bottled gas or kerosene.

Special allowances are made in the Amish built home to accommodate the prohibition against electricity. ?For instance, homes often feature skylights to increase the lighting and inverters are sometimes used to pull currents from a battery source so that appliances such as electrics fan can be used.

However, you won?t find a telephone, television, stereo, or computer in an Amish teenager?s bedroom or anywhere else in the house. ?Such items are strictly forbidden.?

HOME MADE MEAL

After viewing the home and surrounding land, we were treated to a sit down dinner prepared by our Amish hosts, and the younger members of their family, from items grown in their garden or brought from the neighboring farm.

The Amish do not permit photos of them, but I was granted permission to take the above photos, which I was very grateful.

To see more entries of Ailsa?s challenge or to participate, visit her blog, Where?s my backpack? and this week?s theme ?TRADITION?.

BE ENCOURAGED! ?BE BLESSED!

Source: http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/travel-theme-tradition/

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