Fredrick Taylor American Studies "I don't think it ever ends. At one time or another, it's always a holiday. Halloween starts in August, and Christmas starts as early as September. Holidays are corporate celebrations." Gen Bink Applied Research Psychology "Yes. It puts unnecessary pressure on people at a time of the year they should feel happy." Joe Quinnan Secondary Education "It doesn't really matter to Samantha Brugger Criminal Justice "Yes. Most people already have their Christmas shop ping done. I wait until the last minute." The Truth About the Amish Dr. Richard Almen, a former Penn State Harrisburg faculty member, held a seminar on Wednesday afternoon entitled "Debunking Myths about the Amish." He spent over an hour dis cussing events he had encountered during time he spent within the Amish community. The first Amish to arrive in the United States originally settled here in Berks County, Pa. and later migrat ed to Lancaster County, P. where many still live today. There are Amish communities in most of the fifty states including many living within the retirement communities in Florida. Dr. Almen has spent most of his time with some former Lancaster county natives who now live in Clinton County, Pa. He contrasted the lifestyles of some Clinton county residents with those living in Amish communities in Nebraska. According to Dr. Almen the Nebraska Amish have rugged looking houses, barns, lawns, and dress. The reason for this difference is due to different think ing. The Nebraska Amish think that the Lancaster Amish are too worldly about how their lawns and houses look. However, the Lancaster Amish think that cleanliness is next to godliness and they believe the Nebraska Amish are not taking enough care in this area of the religion or they are just lazy, Dr. Almen recounted some of the Amish weddings he has attended, telling a humorous story to depict the events. He explained that the guests eat dinner in specifically divided groups. The bride and groom and their immediate family eat first, then the relatives, and then the riff raff eat last. He also spoke of some advice he was given for eating the dinner. He was told to eat and not talk because they do not want to talk to you and if you do talk dinner will be over and you have not eaten anything yet. He also spoke about a ritual that represents a pass from a maiden to a homemaker, signified by the stepping over a broom by the bride. Dr. Almen also explained why the Amish are not allowed to own cars but can ride in them. He said that there are a few reasons for this decision. One reason is because Amish communities do not allow anything to divide them and ownership of a car may hurt the community. Another rea son is that an individual must not have pride in anything if they believe in the Amish religion. Finally, the Amish believe that transportation scatters families and without it everyone stays together. Dr. Almen talked about the making of his four children's books about the Amish and the reac tion of the Amish communities to the book. He says they liked them so much they display them on their mantels. The books are available in the book store on campus. Dating Violence Seminar By KATHRYN HERR Staff Reporter
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers