The big wedding was today.  I delivered my tablecloths the other day. Hey – I have always said, you can’t have a party without tablecloths, even if you are Amish.

They typically use plastic but of course I couldn’t bear that. So I brought all the tablecloths for them. They were a big hit let me tell you. All the women commented on them and said that that is how their mother’s use to do it but then they switched to plastic because it was easier, but they really appreciated the cloth ones. I am now known as the English tablecloth lady in this part of Lancaster County.

They had over 400 guests. After the sermon and prayers they sang. It was so amazing to hear them all sing. No musical instruments! The first floor of the house is open end to end and the women are seated at one end, the family in the middle and the men at the other end. We were seated with the other 6 English folks on the women’s side. When they sang we heard mostly the women and then as an echo you heard the men. It was very slow and melodic and I can only describe it as something between mermaid siren songs and monks chanting. I have never heard anything like it. Each word is sung so slowly that I wasn’t sure if they was lalalala-ing it or actually speaking words. I was told that they were saying words and that the reason they sing it so slowly is that when the Anabaptist’s were imprisoned in Europe they would sing but that the jailors would laugh and dance to their songs so they started to sing them so slowly and drawn out that the jailers wouldn’t dance to them. And that is the history of the slow singing. Who knew!

The noon meal was a traditional wedding meal of a chicken and stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed celery, butter, donuts and applesauce. There were several seatings so people mostly sat and ate with not too much chatting. As soon as the table was finished they passed all the plates and silverware down the line, stacking it up as they passed it until it got to the end and one of the helpers took it away. Also, they don’t use napkins. I will have to ask about that. Only water and coffee are served as beverages.

After lunch the married couple goes upstairs and while all family and friends sing songs in English, they open all their gifts. All the gifts were very practical like a bucket and hose, pyrex dishes, towels and such. Amazingly enough there weren’t many duplicates as they don’t register anywhere.

You can go outside and watch the teenagers play volleyball or find a corner and chat with friends. About 3pm there is more singing. The benches are put out again and the hymn books passed around. The man gave one to me, smiled and said ” would you like one to read?” I said ” I think you are making a little fun of me because you know I can’t read German” and then he laughed and said “well, you can read the page numbers”.  Those Amish have a wicked sense of humor.

At 5pm they were serving up supper again. This time it was ham loaf, noodles, new potatoes, peas and salad. We were still stuffed from lunch but I ate all my dinner and some ice cream, cake and fruit salad. Too bad I won’t be working it all off tomorrow like they will.

It was a lively day and they were so happy that we came and they made sure we had someone to watch over us and make us feel welcome and comfortable. I knew a good many people there and we made more friends. It was truly a very special day for us as well as for them.

Best of luck to the newly weds!

 

Faux Farm Girl,

Annie