The Amish Celery Wedding Tradition Explained

why do the amish use celery for weddings

Amish weddings are often held in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery is finished growing. Celery is used as a decorative centerpiece at Amish weddings, and it is also served as a dish during the wedding meal. In some Amish communities, celery is believed to be an aphrodisiac, which may explain its presence at weddings. The use of celery varies across different Amish communities, with some former Amish people stating that they were unaware of the tradition until after they left.

Characteristics Values
Timing of weddings Amish weddings usually take place in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery is finished growing.
Wedding meal Fried or broasted chicken, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed celery, coleslaw, vegetables, applesauce, pies, donuts, pudding, fruits, and breads with butter and jelly.
Celery as decoration Celery is used as a decorative centerpiece, often consisting of mason jars filled with celery stalks.
Celery as a symbol Celery is believed to be a symbol of fertility and a good marriage.
Celery as a side dish Creamed celery is a traditional Amish wedding side dish, made with cooked celery in a sweetened and thickened creamy sauce.
Celery soup Amish wedding celery soup is a nutritious and flavorful dish, often served with noodles, shredded cheese, garlic, or parsley.

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Celery is an aphrodisiac in Bavaria, where many Amish forefathers originated

Amish weddings are usually held in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery is finished growing. The Amish use celery as a decoration, often for table centrepieces that consist of mason jars filled with celery stalks. It is also used in creamed celery, a standard side dish at every Amish wedding, and in Amish casseroles.

Many of the forefathers of the Amish immigrated from Amish communities in Bavaria between 1840 and 1880. In this region, celery is known to be an aphrodisiac. It is believed that celery smells like androstenone, the primary male pheromone, and that chewing a stalk of celery releases androstenone and androstenol odor molecules into your mouth. Celery juice is also believed to intensify this effect. Celery has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries, with Grimod de la Reyniere noting in the 18th century that "it is enough to stress that [celery] is not in any way a salad for bachelors".

In addition to its pheromonal properties, celery juice offers many nutritional benefits that may help sexually. According to the USDA, celery juice is a good source of potassium, a key nutrient for both men's and women's sexual health. It is also a source of magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K, all of which are linked to sexual health. For example, celery is a rich source of vitamin K, which promotes bone health and efficient blood clotting.

While celery may not increase androsterone levels or improve sex drive in men, it may marginally contribute to fertility and help regulate blood pressure. A polyherbal formulation of celery, parsley, and coriander exhibited a substantial and sustained enhancement in the sexual activity of healthy male rats, suggesting that the formulation maintains aphrodisiac properties.

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Amish weddings occur in November when celery is finished growing

Amish weddings are traditionally held in the fall, after the harvest is completed, usually in November or December. This is also when celery is finished growing, and it is a staple at Amish weddings, especially in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

In some Amish communities, weddings are celebrated in the spring, as there are so many that they cannot all be held in the fall. However, the majority take place in the fall months, as the Amish are too busy for such matters until after the harvest is in.

The entire community is usually invited to the wedding, which is held at the bride or groom's family farm. There can be up to 300 people in attendance. The wedding meal is carefully planned, with food served in rotation to manage the large number of guests. Celery is used as a decoration, often as centrepieces in mason jars, and it is also served as a dish.

In Lancaster County, creamed celery is served as part of the wedding dinner. This is cooked celery in a sweetened and thickened creamy sauce. It is cooked with water, sugar, and brown sugar, which balances the savoury flavours and adds a subtle sweetness to the cream sauce. Celery is also used in a casserole that is served at the wedding dinner, which is a mixture of chicken and stuffing.

In Amish communities, celery is also believed to be an aphrodisiac, which may be another reason for its prevalence at Amish weddings.

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Celery is used as a decoration, often in centrepieces

Amish weddings usually take place in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery is finished growing. Celery is used as a decoration, often in centrepieces, and is as ubiquitous as flowers are in modern weddings. A mason jar of cut celery stalks sits on every table, and the vegetable is also incorporated into the meal.

In some Amish communities, it is believed that celery is an aphrodisiac. This belief may have originated in Bavaria, from where many of the forefathers of the American Amish immigrated between 1840 and 1880. In southern Bavaria, celery salad is traditionally served as a side dish to roast goose, which is also an appropriate wedding dish.

In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Old Order Amish serve creamed celery as part of their wedding dinner. The recipe involves cooking celery in a sweetened and thickened creamy sauce, sometimes with the addition of brown sugar for a subtle sweetness. This dish is also served at weddings in Sarasota, Florida, where the first Amish settlers were lured by the promise of celery farms.

In addition to creamed celery, celery may be served raw or cooked at Amish weddings. It is also used in a casserole that includes chicken and stuffing, and in celery soup.

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Celery is served in a casserole at Amish weddings

Amish weddings are traditionally held in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery is finished growing. The wedding meal is carefully planned, with food served in rotation to accommodate the large number of guests. Celery is a staple at Amish weddings, with some variation in how it is prepared and served across different communities. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for instance, the Old Order Amish serve creamed celery as part of their wedding dinner. This dish consists of cooked celery in a sweetened and thickened creamy sauce, with sugar and brown sugar adding a subtle sweetness to the cream sauce. The Amish in other states may have different traditions, with some serving celery soup or including celery in casseroles.

In addition to its culinary uses, celery is also used decoratively at Amish weddings. Mason jars filled with celery stalks often serve as centerpieces, and fresh celery stalks may be placed on the tables for guests to enjoy. The ubiquity of celery at Amish weddings has led some to suggest that it is as common as flowers are at modern weddings.

The origin of the tradition of serving celery at Amish weddings is not entirely clear. One possible explanation is that celery is harvested in the fall, coinciding with the typical timing of Amish weddings. Another theory suggests that celery is considered an aphrodisiac in Bavaria, from where many of the forefathers of the American Amish immigrated between 1840 and 1880. Thus, the use of celery in Amish weddings may be a preserved tradition from their Bavarian heritage.

While the specific reasons for including celery in Amish weddings may vary, it is clear that celery plays a significant role in the celebrations, whether as a decorative element, a symbolic food, or a functional ingredient in various dishes. The Amish are known for their unique traditions, and the incorporation of celery in their wedding customs is certainly a distinctive feature that sets their nuptial celebrations apart.

In terms of the casserole itself, it is worth noting that Amish weddings feature a variety of dishes, including fried or broasted chicken, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, coleslaw, vegetables, applesauce, pies, donuts, pudding, fruits, and breads with butter and jelly. The casserole that includes celery is likely a combination of chicken and stuffing with a generous amount of celery added to the mix. This casserole is just one of the many dishes served at Amish weddings, contributing to the abundance of food that characterizes these special occasions.

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Amish wedding celery soup is a traditional recipe

Amish weddings are traditionally held in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery is finished growing. Celery is a staple at Amish weddings, used in decorations and as a key ingredient in wedding meals. In fact, it is said that you can tell when a family is preparing for a wedding by the amount of celery growing in their garden.

The use of celery in Amish weddings may be due to its symbolism and functionality within the Amish culinary world. Celery is believed to be an aphrodisiac in Bavaria, from where many of the forefathers of the American Amish immigrated between 1840 and 1880. As such, the inclusion of celery in wedding recipes and decorations may be rooted in this traditional knowledge.

Additionally, the timing of Amish weddings in the fall coincides with the harvest of celery, ensuring an abundance of fresh celery for use in the celebrations. The preparation of Amish wedding celery soup, in particular, may be a time-honoured tradition passed down through generations, with some recipes cautioning against the use of modern appliances like food processors, which can alter the desired consistency of the soup.

While the exact origins of the tradition may be unclear, the use of celery in Amish wedding recipes, including the beloved celery soup, remains a distinctive and cherished aspect of Amish wedding culture.

Frequently asked questions

Amish weddings usually take place in the fall, after the harvest is completed and when the celery has finished growing. Celery is harvested in the fall, so it is in season for Amish weddings. It is also believed that celery is an aphrodisiac, which may explain its prevalence at Amish weddings.

Celery is used in a variety of ways at Amish weddings. It is often used as a table decoration, with mason jars filled with celery stalks acting as centerpieces. Celery is also used in the wedding meal, with dishes such as creamed celery, celery soup, and celery casserole being common.

The use of celery at Amish weddings varies between communities. While it is a common tradition in some areas, such as Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, it is not universal among all Amish communities. Some former Amish individuals have stated that they did not encounter the use of celery at weddings until after they left the Amish community.

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