Do the Amish Celebrate Holidays?
Many people assume that the Amish people do not celebrate holidays. There are many reasons folks might make this assumption. For example, you aren’t going to drive by an Amish community and see Christmas lights or Halloween decorations.
If you aren’t entirely familiar with the Amish religion and culture, you may wonder if they celebrate holidays because you have heard of other religions that do not celebrate holidays.
So let’s get into it and find out if the Amish celebrate holidays and if so, which holidays they celebrate.
We are speaking in generalities. Exact methods of holiday observance may vary by each community or among the different types of Amish.
Table of Contents
Do the Amish Celebrate Holidays?
Yes, the Amish do celebrate holidays, but not worldly holidays and not in the same way most people do.
Which Holidays do the Amish Celebrate?
The Amish celebrate holidays that hold religious meaning, like Christmas, Old Christmas (Jan. 6), Easter, Thanksgiving, Ascension Day, and Pentecost.
Holidays the Amish Commonly Celebrate
- Christmas: Celebrated with family meals, religious reflection, and sometimes small gifts. Many also observe Old Christmas on January 6. Read more about how the Amish celebrate Christmas and Old Christmas.
- Easter: Marked by church services and family gatherings.
- Thanksgiving: A day of gratitude, rest, and shared meals.
- Ascension Day: A lesser-known religious holiday observed with rest and worship.
- Pentecost: Another church-focused holiday.
Key Differences in How Amish and “English” Celebrate Holidays
| Holiday Element | Amish | English (Non-Amish) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | Focus on Christ’s birth, scripture readings, family meals, sometimes handmade gifts. No Santa Claus or light displays | Tree decorations, Santa Claus, lights, gift exchanges, parties. |
| Easter | Church, quiet reflection, family meals. No Easter Bunny or egg hunts. | Church (for some), egg hunts, candy, baskets, family traditions. |
| Thanksgiving | A day of gratitude and rest. Simple meals shared with family. | Similar, but often includes TV (parades, football), and more excess. |
| New Year’s & Old Christmas | Some celebrate New Year’s quietly. Old Christmas (Jan. 6) is a second Christmas focused on spiritual meaning. | New Year’s Eve parties, fireworks. Old Christmas is mostly unknown. |
| Fourth of July | Not widely celebrated. Patriotism is downplayed due to nonresistance beliefs. | Fireworks, flags, patriotic displays. |
| Halloween & Valentine’s Day | Not celebrated due to worldly themes, materialism, or romantic overtones. | Candy is closely tied to both. Spooky costumes, trick-or-treating, and expensive jewelry. |
Want to learn more about how and why the Amish observe each holiday? See the answers to frequently asked questions below.
Amish Holiday FAQs
Do the Amish celebrate Christmas?
Yes, the Amish celebrate Christmas focusing on faith, family, and simplicity. Many observe December 25 and “Old Christmas” on January 6, reflecting older Christian traditions.
What is Old Christmas, and why do the Amish Celebrate it?
Old Christmas falls on January 6, the traditional date of Epiphany. Some Amish observe it as a quiet day of rest, reflection, and family time.
Do the Amish celebrate Easter?
Yes, Amish families celebrate Easter, focusing on the resurrection of Christ. Church services, quiet reflection, and a family meal are common traditions. In fact, many of the Amish woodshops we work with shut operations down on Good Friday and Easter in order to observe the holiday.
Do the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving?
Most Amish celebrate Thanksgiving, often with a large family meal and expressions of gratitude. The day is less commercial and more faith-centered than typical American observance.
Do the Amish observe New Year’s Day?
Yes, many Amish observe New Year’s Day as a time to visit family and friends. It’s considered a day of rest and fellowship.
Do the Amish celebrate Independence Day (4th of July)?
Not usually. While Amish appreciate their freedom, they do not typically celebrate national holidays like the Fourth of July with fireworks or patriotic displays.
What is Ascension Day, and why is it important to the Amish?
Ascension Day marks 40 days after the resurrection (Easter) and commemorates Jesus’s ascent into heaven. It is an official holiday for many Amish groups, observed with church or rest.
Do the Amish celebrate Halloween?
No, the Amish do not celebrate Halloween. They avoid the holiday due to its associations with superstition and commercialism.
Do the Amish celebrate Valentine’s Day?
No, Amish communities generally do not celebrate Valentine’s Day, as it is considered too focused on romantic or secular traditions.
Do Amish celebrate Good Friday?
Yes, Good Friday is an important religious day for the Amish. Many observe it quietly with prayer, Bible reading. Many Amish will take off of work to observe Good Friday. In fact, many of the Amish woodshops we work with shut down on Good Friday and Easter.
Do the Amish Take Off from Work for Holidays?
Yes, they do! Many of the Amish woodshops we work with will send us holiday wishes and notes telling us they will be shut down to observe holidays such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and Ascension Day.
Do the Amish use Christmas Trees to celebrate Christmas?
No. There are no fancy or distracting Christmas trees with lights. It would take away from the true meaning of the holiday for the Amish. They remain focused on the birth of Christ and spending time with their families.
If you have more questions about how the Amish celebrate holidays, leave them in the comments below!
Learn More About the Amish
- Different Types of Amish
- Amish Beliefs
- Amish Clothing
- 6 Things You Might Not Know About the Amish and Money
- Amish Families
- Amish Transportation
- Amish Church
- Amish Businesses
- Amish History
- Amish Children
- Amish Misconceptions
- Pennsylvania Dutch – the Amish Language
- What the Amish Read
- The Amish and Technology
- Amish Wedding Traditions
- Places You Didn’t Expect to See Amish People
- 10 Ways Amish People Travel
- Amish Games and Entertainment
- Amish and Guns
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Seth Carter has been with DutchCrafters since 2020. Seth has won multiple awards for his work in Amish furniture while with DutchCrafters. He has advised and partnered with more than 150 Amish wood shops on furniture presentation, design, industry trends, product options, and the development of exclusive products. He is originally from Indiana and even lived in Amish country (LaGrange, Indiana) for an extended period of time while working with DutchCrafters. Seth was previously in charge of DutchCrafters' Amish bedroom furniture category. He was eventually promoted to lead the team that managed every product in DutchCrafters' world's largest online collection of Amish furniture.
