This season, as with every year, the Amish communities witness a return to one of their oldest traditions: barn raising.
The act is a celebration of something core to the Amish personality. A barn is the hub for many kinds of Amish work; it’s the nexus for their products and processes, including woodworking. Without their beautiful barns and the elegant process by which they’re erected, we wouldn’t have the materials the Amish turn into beautiful reclaimed barnwood furniture. To commemorate barn raising, we’ll take this time to dive into its history and its current status.
History of Amish Barn Raising
Barn raising began as a viable practice in the earliest American settlements. In those days, for want of contractors and carpenters, societies were interdependent and came together to erect the barns the way they came together to do anything.
It’s an essential practice to the Amish identity because it celebrates community, hard work, and common goals. The Amish refer to practices that satisfy these conditions as “frolics”. Barn raising is the most prolific frolic. Because it is a frolic, or an event that combines socializing with a common goal, it has sustained long after the advent of more practical methods.
Why Has Amish Barn Raising Season Been Delayed?
This year, we have yet to see barn raising season begin in our area, though historically this is the most popular time. The most likely culprit for barn raising’s delayed initiation is the inclement weather experienced by the Midwest and the Northeast over the last several months. In fact, the moisture in the air has caused us to extend the kiln-drying period for our Amish furniture.
As the clouds disperse and the temperatures lift enough to show the countryside mercy, we’re sure to see new barns crop up alongside the equally productive flowers of spring. As for us, we’ll continue to provide handcrafted Amish reclaimed barnwood furniture.
It’s a tradition as valuable to us as the barn raising that fuels it.
What are the barn raising traditions in your area? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook or on Twitter!
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