A postcard from
PENNSYLVANIA has just arrived! Cecilia has some findings on the state of
Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County.
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| Pennsylvania City |
WHERE IS PENNSYLVANIA?
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| Location of the United States of America |
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| Location of the State of Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania
officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state located in the
North and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States and the Great Lakes region.
The Appalachian Mountains run through its middle. The state borders Delaware to
the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to
the west, Lake Erie and Ontario, Canadato the northwest, New York to the north,
and New Jersey to the east.
Some of the most important cities in the state of Pennsylvania are Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading and Erie.
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| Philadelphia |
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| Allentown |
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| Erie |
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| Reading |
PENNSYLVANIA IS FAMOUS FOR...
...being home to the nation's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo.
The Liberty Bell, which is an iconic symbol of American independence. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence Hall), the bell today is located in the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park.
PLACES TO VISIT
Valley Forge National Historical Park
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| Valley Forge Park |
This is the site
of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American
Revolutionary War, taking place from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. The
National Historical Park preserves the site and interprets the history of the
Valley Forge encampment. Originally Valley Forge State Park, it became a
national historical park in 1976. The Park contains historical buildings,
recreated encampment structures, memorials, museums, and recreation facilities.
The Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County
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| Lancaster County Amish |
The Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County are America's oldest Amish settlement, where thousands still live a centuries-old "Plain" lifestyle.
The Amish are a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology. The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann. Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish. In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites migrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. Today, the most traditional descendants of the Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as "Pennsylvania Dutch".
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| Pennsylvania Dutch |
AMISH LIFESTYLE
The way of life of the Amish in Lancaster County has remained largely unchanged since they settled here 300 years ago.
On the surface, the Amish lifestyle might appear to be staid and inflexible. However, it reflects a way of life that is based on a literal interpretation of the Bible, as well as unwritten rules from the Amish Ordnung that prescribes behavior, appearance and other aspects of the Amish culture. The resulting community of Amish in PA is one of humility, modesty, obedience, equality and simplicity.
The family is the most important social unit among the PA Amish; those with seven to ten children are not uncommon.
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| Amish family |
The characteristic style of plain Amish dress is the most obvious outward manifestation of their faith, purity and social separation from the world. It demonstrates group allegiance and identity, as well as the willingness to yield to group standards.
PA Amish men wear dark-colored suits, straight-cut coats with no lapels, broadfall trousers, suspenders, solid-colored shirts, black socks and shoes, and black or straw broad-brimmed hats. Shirts fasten with conventional buttons; suit coats and vests fasten with hooks and eyes. Men do not wear mustaches and generally wait until after marriage to grow beards.
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| Amish men |
Amish women wear modest, solid-colored dresses, usually with long sleeves and a full skirt, a cape and apron. The clothing is fastened with straight pins or snaps. Hair is never cut and is worn in a bun on the back of the head, concealed by a prayer covering. Single women in their teens and twenties wear black prayer coverings for church services; a white covering is worn at most times by women of all ages. PA Amish women are not permitted to wear jewelry or printed fabrics.
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| Amish women |
If you want to find out more about Amish Town in Lancaster County PA, watch the video below.
Sources:
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