To Lancaster County..The Heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country!!



          As you enter Lancaster County, you will notice scenic and rolling farmlands with one room schoolhouses.



          You will also see windmills and covered bridges and barns with hex signs and many horse and buggys.



          If you are not familiar with the Amish attire, here is a little Amish boy and girl showing their style of clothing..


          Amish men wear dark-colored suits, straight-cut coats with no lapels, very wide-legged trousers, suspenders, solid-colored shirts, black socks and shoes, and black or straw broad-brimmed hats. Shirts fasten with conventional buttons; suit coats and vests fasten with hooks and eyes. Men do not wear mustaches and generally wait until after marriage to grow beards.


          Amish women wear modest, solid-colored dresses, usually with long sleeves and a full skirt, a cape and apron. The clothing is fastened with straight pins or snaps. Hair is never cut and is worn in a bun on the back of the head, concealed by a prayer covering. Single women in their teens and twenties wear black prayer coverings for church services; a white covering is worn after they marry. Amish women are not permitted to wear jewelry or printed fabrics.


          The Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch are noted and famous for their homemade quilts..My very best friend made a friendship quilt for me..You will see names on the quilt and I am sure you will know who they belong to..My closest friends who I have met along the way on the internet..I love you all and thanks for being there for me!! Thought this would be the most appropriate page to display it on.



          Some Hex Signs and Their Meanings~~


          The "Pennsylvania Dutch" or "Pennsylvania Germans", best known as the "fancy" Dutch, created beautiful folk art type designs commonly referred to as "hex signs." These signs were painted on barns and houses. They only began to be hung inside homes in the mid-1900s. Many legends surround the hex sign. Some people think the signs have magical powers, while others just enjoy the simple, colorful geometric designs.


          Here are just a few examples of the many hex signs available:


          Eight Pointed Star~~~ The eight pointed star is a common hex sign. The star is usually blue and is a sign of goodwill. The tulips represent faith and trust in mankind and the sheaves of wheat symbolize abundance. This design is used to decorate large buildings and it hopefully brings abundance and goodwill to all that display it.


          Double Headed Eagle~~ The double eagle on this sign represents strength and courage. The heart is laced for love in marriage. The three tulips, known as the Trinity Tulips symbolize faith, hope and charity.


          Mighty Oak~~ A symbol of the oak tree represents strength, health in body & mind, and endurance. Four oak leaves symbolizes the four seasons of life - spring, summer, fall, and winter. The scalloped border brings out life and smooth sailing.


          Rosette~~ The single rosette is the most basic design of all the hex signs and it is one of the most ancient designs in western culture. The rosette appears on buildings, furniture, gravestones and pottery. The rosette design is the symbol for luck and the scalloped border symbolizes smooth sailing. The color red is used to symbolize strength and green is the color for life. This sign with the red rosette is a safeguard against harm and brings good luck in life.


          Single Distelfink~~ The Distelfink was the good luck bird of the Pennsylvania Dutch. It actually was a stylized version of the goldfinch. The goldfinch eats thistle seeds and uses the thistle down for its nest and was called a thistlefinch. So this is where the Pennsylvania Dutch term, "Distelfink" comes from. This single distelfink sign is a symbol of good luck and happiness. The heart adds a measure of love and the tulips faith.


          Other Pennsylvania Dutch Related Links~~


          The Pennsylvania Dutch Country


          Amish Links


          Amish Country


          Hope you enjoyed this little "taste" of Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish Country.


          I would like to take my sis and bestest friend for making my background.