How the Amish Commemorate Easter

The Easter weekend in the Amish community begins on Good Friday, the day that symbolizes Christ's crucifixion, with fasting till noon. They choose to fast because it reflects on the sacred day.This season is often commemorated with a communion service on Sunday, which carries immense spiritual significance as they reflect on Jesus Christ and His life. Saturday through Monday is spent visiting, socializing with family and friends, and enjoying delicious meals. One of the most common foods served at the dinner table is eggs, because they mean rebirth.  Easter Sunday is when the largest gatherings are held. Sometimes the children go around and sing to the elderly members in their community as well. The Monday after Easter Sunday is treated like an "Off-Sunday" or what the Amish also call "Visiting Sunday." There are no church services held, but families will only do the necessary livestock chores and then spend the rest of the day visiting with family and friends. On Tuesday, they return to their normal weekly routine and jobs. Relax... Cleaning Poly is Easy! Do you enjoy being outside? Are you looking for outdoor furniture that will last and is easy to clean? The poly furniture of Leisure Lawns and Finch collections are both collections that endure and are easy to clean. In the following video, one of Snyder's Sales Associate demonstrates how easy it is to clean the poly furniture: Cleaning Poly Furniture. Contact one of our sales associates today to receive more information on the Outdoor Poly Furniture. Contact Us Today!

In Our Community - The Gordonville Mud Sale

To the right, to the left, for as far as the eye could see, there was people. And from every corner, you were greeted with the sounds of auctioneers selling goods, children playing, horses neighing, sirens; these were only a few of the sounds you heard. Andrea, one of sales associates, has attended numerous benefit auctions in the past, but none compared to the mud sale.  No parking was available near the sale, so most people parked off-site and were shuttled on into the auction in school buses. As you walked towards the fire department, you met little Amish boys with their express wagons. These little boys were pulling sold items to vehicles for the auction goers. The variety of items found on the auction blocks was endless - antiques, reclaimed barn-wood items, farm equipment, sheds, quilts, household goods.

Many smells also greeted your nose - BBQ chicken, frying hamburgers, coffee, hot cider, french fries, soft pretzels. Auction goers could be found with coffee in one hand and french fries in another. There was also homemade donuts and hot cider to warm you up on the cool spring morning. Many little stands were set up, selling local Amish delicacies. Apple cider, canned goods such as chow-chow, pickles, jellies and jams, cheeses, smoked meats, homemade brooms. Most importantly the proceeds from this auction are to benefit the Gordonville Fire department, a fire department that is 100% volunteer. Many of the volunteers at Gordonville are from the Amish community. This sale is an example of how a community can work together to support one another.

After spending an hour at the auction and having acquired some auction goodies, it was time to head back to the bus pickup location. Due to the amount of people arriving for the auction, the wait time for the bus was longer. While waiting, one could take in the auction as people came and went. We highly recommend experiencing the Lancaster County culture that is found at a mud sale. It is wonderful to see how the community pulls together for the good of one another. The upcoming mud sales can be found here.

Local Handcrafted Amish Furniture on a Budget

It doesn't take a large budget to afford local handcrafted furniture. We source all our furniture from local woodworkers in Pennsylvania. Not only does this support our local community, it saves both money and the environment by reducing shipping. The solid hardwood is long lasting and sustain-ably harvested from northeastern forests

Here are 2 stylish sets that will beautify your home without breaking your wallet

This Tuscany set combines Onyx Maple and stained Elm tops for striking look while only costing $2599. A modern look with long last hardwood and quality construction. Plus customize colors for no extra charge!

The Vintage set from Eden Craft is new style with simple shaker lines. Give this set a contemporary look with gray or brown stains. The 5 pc set shown starts at $3699 on sale.

These are just two of the affordable quality sets we offer. Our furniture is guaranteed for life!
Contact us below to get started on your own home!

A Lancaster County Spring Tradition!

Photo courtesy of RealLancasterCounty.com

As the winter frost melts and spring approaches, Lancaster County holds one of its annual traditions, Mud Sales. Local fire companies hold these events as fundraisers. Named after the ever present late winter mud, its a chance for the community to gather and socialize. Great local food, furniture, crafts, and all sorts of donated items are available for sale and auctioned off. A mud sale is a great chance to go beyond the tourist spots and immerse yourself in Lancaster County culture! Click below to see a list of upcoming mud sales!

Upcoming Mud Sales

Where to eat in Intercourse, PA (or while your visiting Snyder's)

Lunch at the Kling House

We get asked several times a day "where is a good place to eat around here?' Lancaster is known for is smorgasbords, large buffets with ample servings of PA Dutch foods. In the small town of Intercourse though, there are no smorgasbords, though several good ones are only a few miles away, we will cover them in a later post. Here are our recommendations for eating a good meal in our hometown.

Kling House
This restaurant is located in the Kitchen Kettle Village, a collection of over 40 small shops and a must visit. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and features a variety of local staples like scrapple and meat loaf. Several of the Snyder family had lunch there recently and were exceptionally pleased.

Olde Mill Restaurant
The only option in town for dinner, the Olde Mill Restaurant is in the recently renovated Intercourse Inn & Suites. It draws a heavily local crowd on week nights and features a solid menu of local delicacies like pork & sauerkraut. We often order carryout from here, and sometimes have company dinners here.

Stoltzfus Meats/Amos' Place Restaurant
This is our favorite spot for a quick breakfast or lunch. Everything is made to order. Amos's Place Restaurant is located in Stoltzfus Meats & Deli. Our favorites include eggs & scrapple for breakfast, a spicy kickin chicken wrap, or broasted chicken for lunch. Also try to hand cut fries or a PA Dutch version of the Philly cheesesteak. It can get very busy during lunch time on Saturdays but they do offer the option to call ahead and order.

We'll look at some of the restaurants outside of town in a few weeks. Let us know what your favorites are!

3 Creative Ways to Utilize Your Shaker Chest

Shaker chests hold an honored place in any set of Shaker furniture. Lancaster, PA families have long used Shaker chests to store blankets and linens, and many chests saw use throughout the years as Hope chests for young brides.

Today linens are more likely to be stored in the hall closet, and the Hope chest has for the most part fallen into disuse. Even so, people still enjoy the clean, functional lines of Shaker furniture, and Lancaster PA families often find new, imaginative uses for their beloved Shaker chests.

The Chest as a Coffee Table

A Shaker chest makes an interesting coffee table, and its simple shape lends itself to many different décors. Quite at home with other Shaker furniture, Lancaster PA residents also find the chests’ polished wood finish adds a classical touch to modern living room sets. 

Entertainment Units

Shaker chests easily support a television for a simple, classy entertainment unit. Place the chest between two deep bookcases to frame the television and provide a place for DVD players and gaming consoles. If the chest has drawers, you can store DVDs and games inside.

A shaker chest also looks great directly underneath a wall-mounted television, filling the empty space beneath the television with an elegant piece of furniture with simple shape doesn’t distract from TV watching.

Chests as Seating Areas

Growing up with Shaker furniture, Lancaster PA kids were often scolded for sitting on the good furniture (I’m not sure where we were supposed to sit, now that I think of it). A shaker chest is strong enough to act as impromptu seating. Just add a cushion and use it wherever you need to combine seating and storage.

Shaker Furniture in Lancaster, PA

Whether you want a chest, bed or complete set of Shaker furniture, our Lancaster, PA showroom has plenty for you to choose from. Drop by today or check out our online catalog for the finest in handmade furniture.

Why Buy From an Amish Furniture Outlet?

At our Amish furniture outlet, we’re sometimes asked what makes Amish furniture so special. After all, today’s consumer has access to an international range of furniture styles and designs. Many of those choices cost less than handcrafted Amish furniture. What is it, exactly, that makes Amish craftsmanship unique?

We gave the matter some thought and finally decided on the five main reasons why we feel Amish furniture stands out from other choices. 

Timeless Beauty

Furniture, like clothing, follows trends with certain designs going in and out of style. Not all of these trends survive the test of time. (Think of the furniture from the 1970s and 1980s and how dated it looks today). While there’s nothing wrong with being trendy, adhering to the latest furniture fads often forces people to redecorate when fashions change. Today’s cutting-edge fashion is tomorrow’s chintz.

Walk into an Amish furniture outlet, however, and you’re struck by the timeless beauty of the furniture. Hardwoods and classic lines never go out of fashion, and they will look as good in 50 years as they do today.

Reliable Craftsmanship

Mass-produced furniture is made with quantity, not quality, in mind. Much of today’s retail furniture includes particleboard and thin veneers held together with glue, staples and screws. Because of this, the lifespan of many pieces of furniture is limited.

  

Not so with Amish furniture. Handcrafted from hardwoods using traditional joints and wood-working techniques, pieces from our Amish furniture outlet will last for decades, if not centuries. You can see the pride and skill of the craftsman in each piece’s strength and durability.

Heirloom Pieces

Combine classic beauty with longevity, and you get furniture that families can pass down from generation to generation. While people usually think of jewelry, books, watches and pieces of art as heirlooms, the well-made piece of furniture you buy today could still be in your family when your grand kids are grandparents.

Savings Through an Amish Furniture Outlet

People sometimes object to the prices at an Amish furniture outlet when compared to cheap alternatives. It’s true you’ll pay more for a solid wood, handmade piece of custom furniture than for a mass-produced item made from cheap materials. In the long run, however, Amish furniture can actually save you money.

Think of it this way: You may have to replace cheaper furniture several times over. In contrast, once you buy a piece of Amish furniture you should never need to buy a replacement. In short, buying from an Amish furniture outlet is a sound financial move.

Supporting a Traditional Way of Life

Finally, buying from an Amish furniture outlet helps support a durable, simple way of life. Despite the allure of modern convenience and technology, the Amish continue to thrive. At Snyder's Furniture, we think that’s well worth supporting.