How the Amish celebrate Valentine's Day

How the Amish celebrate Valentine's Day
By Patricia Stephens

For the non-Amish, an event celebrating love might not fit in with the perception of the Amish lifestyle. Actually, the opposite is true. As with Christmas and other holidays throughout the year, the Amish community commemorates Valentine's Day in many different ways.

As is typical with Amish life in general, Valentine's Day is festive but on an individual - and relatively quiet - basis. However, food certainly plays a part, and we've included a delicious Amish dish below for you to try.

A special dinner for two - or the entire family - might be served on a lovely dining room table such as the set pictured at the top of this blog or this Amish-made Madrid Pedestal Table and Four Side Chairs.  

According to Kevin Williams, owner of Amish 365,  cited below, Valentine's Day only creates "a little fanfare" among the community. Still, couples may choose to offer each other help with mundane tasks or to make greeting cards for one another in observance.

"If Amish kids go to public school, and many do, especially in the larger Amish communities, you'll see Valentine's Day observed like anywhere else," notes Williams. "That means children will give Valentine's Day cards to one another. As a result, Amish children will come home with Valentine's Day cards from other classmates, which may be the first real exposure to the day some Amish children experience."

This Amish-made Hatfield Table with Six Wood Seat Side Chairs is a special spot to enjoy dishes made for Cupid-seekers or to handcraft a Valentine card and small trinket for a loved one.

And did we mention food? While memories of cinnamon-flavored, heart-shaped candy run through many people's minds around Valentine's Day, Amish cooks prefer something a bit more involved. Such as this Amish Sweetheart Pudding we found on Amish 365.

Amish Sweetheart Pudding

INGREDIENTS

Crust:
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 /2 cup melted butter
1 /4 cup white sugar

Pudding:
3 egg yolks
4 cups milk
½ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Top Layer:
3 egg whites
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

Crust:
Mix together, reserving 1 cup and putting remaining crumbs in pan.

Pudding:
Beat egg yolks first and then fold in the rest of the ingredients and cook over medium heat until thickened. Mix well and pour over crumbs.

Top Layer:
Beat egg whites, sugar, and vanilla till stiff and glossy. Layer onto pudding and top with reserved crumbs.

Amish Furniture Creations is a family-owned and operated furniture store in Mesa, Az. We have been a proud distributor of Amish-made furniture since 1993. We also offer custom options for most of the pieces offered on our site. In addition, we provide more material options to ensure that you bring home a beautiful product that will fit your interior or exterior spaces. You can visit us at our store at 1660 S. Alma School Rd., #100, Mesa, Arizona, to learn more about Amish furniture and custom furniture pieces. Or you can call us at (480) 336-2144. We are always happy to answer your questions.

Source:

Amish 365
https://www.amish365.com/do-the-amish-celebrate-valentines-day/
"Do The Amish Celebrate Valentine's Day?"