An Amish Christmas in Michigan: A Pure Celebration of December 25

No tree, no lights, no Black Friday, and no credit card bill in January. Much like many Michigan families, the Amish view Christmas as the most special day of the year, but their way of celebrating involves more storytelling, family time, and scripture than presents and decorations.

Related: 13 Rules Michigan Amish Must Obey

Michigan has the 6th largest population of Amish residents amongst the rest of the United States at nearly 18,000 (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and New York are the top 5). So how will your Amish neighbors celebrate on December 25th?

Storytelling, Family, and Community: An Amish Christmas in Michigan

Take away everything you buy for Christmas, turn off the power, and light up the fire, and then you'll be close to how your Amish friends observe the day. Simon Miller, a member of an Amish community in Clare, Michigan, said this of his family celebration in an interview:

Our way of celebrating Christmas is to sit and read with the children and tell them the story of how Jesus came to Earth through the Virgin Mary and how he shed his blood for us on the cross, as a family talk about what Christmas means

Related: 5 Do's and Don't's for Exploring Amish Country in Michigan

But what about presents? Are gifts exchanged with family and neighbors? Some couples may exchange surprises, and kids may receive a little something, but it's nothing like the grand spectacle that most Michiganders have.

If something is given on Christmas, all of them have one thing in common: they are useful. Miller explains:

One year I got a stepladder, children get clothes or something they need.

Related: 5 Do's and Don't's for Exploring Amish Country in Michigan

When Aaron Miller, a deacon in the Old Amish Order in Clare, was asked about the extravagant lengths the 'English' (their name for someone who is not Amish) go to for Christmas, he had this to say:

We don’t want to be judgmental, the children enjoy looking at the lights, but to us, that’s not the meaning of Christmas. We focus on the religious part of it.

What about the food? That's where Michigan 'English' and Amish find a common ground. Like most Michiganders, they enjoy a dinner with family and most do it with a turkey at the center of the table. So what do you think? Would you give up the lights, the shopping, and the debt for a simpler celebration?