Change and Continuity in Amish Wedding Dates in the Holmes County, Ohio, Settlement

In the past century, Amish of Holmes County, Ohio, have experienced an enormous population increase (from continued high fertility) and a serious decline in farming land shortage). We wondered if their traditional pattern weddings might also changed. showed that whereas used to occur almost exclusively winter months, with peak December, they now spring, summer, early fall, but hardly ever December. Two developments may be responsible. Refrigeration other technologies for preserving food are allowed many churches, making it possible safely preserve wedding foods warm weather. December interfere minimally busy season, decline, is no longer issue. The practice having on Thursdays lesser extent Tuesdays remains unchanged several centuries. Much work involved preparation cleanup after wedding. For reason, desirable avoid holding Saturdays Mondays, since much Sunday would required.