Amish singings, is the name usually given to the Sunday evening gatherings of the Old Order Amish young people. (There are some "old folks' singings" for the purpose of transmitting the unwritten chants used in Amish church services.) The young people's singings are of long standing; they were begun to provide an activity of Christian fellowship for the young people.

In earlier times the singing consisted primarily of German hymns; however, not the slow tunes used in the church services. By the 1950s the singing was mostly English Gospel songs and hymns. In some communities there is 100 per cent participation in the singing. The evening is begun with Scripture reading and prayer, and usually the group disperses quite promptly after the closing prayer. In some other communities the singing is no longer of importance, since not more than 5 per cent of those present participate.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 534. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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