Amish Christmas Dinner

When some friends invited us for a Christmas celebration at an Amish home in nearby Arthur, IL, we were intrigued. We’ve lived in Central Illinois for over ten years, and had seen many horses and buggies on the highways just an hour from here. But we’d never had the privilege to visit in the home of one of these wonderful people. After all, you can’t just walk up their driveway, knock on the back door and ask, “May I see how you live? I’ve read several novels about your lifestyle, and want to observe firsthand how realistically they portray you.” This invitation gave us a rare opportunity, and we gratefully accepted.

On our arrival, we were greeted by a young man of around twenty who showed us where to put our coats, and the way to the dining hall. They had a huge room just off the kitchen that held eight or ten long tables, each seating eight people. This is where they hold their church meetings on Sundays. The families take turns hosting the worship services, so many of them have added these rooms to their homes.

The hostess of the celebration became acquainted with an Amish family when she sold Tupperware to them. Fifteen Christmases ago, she asked if she might pay them to cook a Christmas dinner for her sales crew, and they agreed. The dinner has grown to over seventy people, and the Amish women who serve the meal spend the entire day cooking.

And do they cook! Mashed potatoes that melt on your tongue, noodles cut thin, bursting with real butter, fresh homemade breads and jam, savory meatloaf, crisply fried chicken, and a variety of flakey-crusted pies for dessert. They serve family-style, starting the bowls at one end of the each table, allowing everyone to serve themselves as the food is passed. After the first “round,” they begin again, in case anyone needs seconds. I won’t need to eat for a week.

Every inch of the house gleamed. If I had dropped a slice of bread on the pristine linoleum, I’d have no qualms about eating it—five second rule or not!

The walls were decorated with Scripture plaques, wood-burned signs commemorating their children’s marriages, and shelves that held antique clocks and books.
The bathroom was divided up into two rooms side by side, each with a toilet. On the wall near the door was a plastic light fixture backing with a sign reading, “Amish Light Switch” and a portion from a match box to strike a match on—showing their sense of humor. Above the toilet on a shelf was a battery operated lamp, casting a soft light.

A larger room adjoining those two held a sink. This room was also the walkway between the kitchen and the back door, where a buggy and horse awaited anyone wanting to take a ride. The same smiling young man who greeted us on our arrival hitched up a dark beauty named Ruby for our jaunt.

Please join me Friday when I share how a few of the preconceived notions I held about the Amish got beautifully ruined…

Have you read Amish novels? Met any Amish? What were your impressions?