Sometimes it easier to say how the Amish don't celebrate Easter. You won't, for instance, find the Easter Bunny feted and welcomed at most Amish homes or baskets filled with plastic eggs, green grass, and chocolates. Usually, the day is a more low-key, but important, religious observance.
The Amish, a religious group known for their traditional way of life, celebrate Easter in a simple and meaningful way. The Amish community typically commemorates Easter Sunday by attending church services, singing hymns, and participating in foot washing ceremonies, which are symbolic of Jesus washing his disciples' feet.
🐰 What About The Easter Bunny?
On Easter Sunday, Amish families often gather together for a special meal, which typically features traditional foods such as ham, eggs, bread, and homemade desserts. In some Amish communities, families also exchange small gifts or cards to mark the occasion.
However, it's important to note that Amish customs and practices may vary from community to community, and some Amish groups may celebrate Easter in slightly different ways. Additionally, some Amish groups do not celebrate Easter at all, as they do not observe any religious holidays beyond the weekly Sabbath. But the Easter bunny is usually absent from all celebrations.
The only exception I can think of is, especially Amish children who attend public schools, might get a chocolate bunny or something as part of festivities. Easter cards are also sometimes exchanged.
❓ FAQ About the Amish and Easter
The Amish don't necessarily hold a special service on Easter. Most Amish stick to their every other week church schedule and if Easter Sunday happens to fall on a "Church Sunday" then they'll have a service. If it doesn't, they won't.
No one-size-fits-all answer here, but for the vast majority of Amish, the Easter Bunny is not part of the day's festivities.
Yes! As a Christian religion, the Amish believe in the Resurrection and as Easter being the day that Jesus rose.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer on this. As this post says, some do color them. So might there be a few Easter egg hunts? Possibly in places, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.
🥚 Do The Amish Color Eggs?
The more conservative the Amish, the less "trappings" there are associated with Easter. Secular symbols like colored eggs and the Easter Bunny may well make an appearance in more progressive Amish settlements, especially the coloring of eggs.
These are some eggs colored by an Amish family in Michigan. The tradition of coloring eggs is a secular one that has been adopted by many Amish. After all, most Amish have plenty of eggs on hand, so this is one activity that kids can enjoy that doesn't undercut the truly meaning of Easter.
📋 Amish Voices
Amish writer Sara Miller makes reference to how Easter was celebrated in one of her columns from 2015:
Our Sunday evening guests were son Ray and Judy. Daughter Sylvia and Dan and children had Easter dinner at their daughter Rosanna and Aden’s on Sunday along with son Danny Ray and Betty. Son Joe had his family home also for Easter dinner on Sunday.
So a lot of visiting takes place.
Gloria Yoder, our Amish cook columnist, wrote about Easter in 2017:
Easter Sunday is one of the most special days of the year to me. It is a special day to celebrate our Lord and Savior.
After having prayer together it was time for the children to wake up and have breakfast with us. Before long we were on our way to church where we would discuss Easter’s significance more.
I’ll pause on the events of the day to answer one question you’re most likely asking: are Easter eggs and things as such a part of your Easter celebration? Here’s my answer: “It varies from one Amish community to the next, here we do not.
Sandy J
Being from a very simple and moderate lifestyle, I would not imagine the Amish celebrating with commercial items like the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts and chocolate bunnies
Your articles are very interesting.
Jacob Schneider
My grandmother was Amish but turned Mennonite because she wanted to be married in a church wedding. Her and my grandfather spoke Amish dialect especially when they didn't want the children to know what they were talking about. As far as eggs go they did have them for us on Easter. They also had a contest called bullying eggs to see whose egg was the stronger. Then we had to eat them.
Kevin Williams
Very interesting, Jacob, thanks for sharing your insights and experiences!