What is Amish Bed Courtship?
In the Amish districts that sanction bed courtship, the boy asks the girl if he can take her home. If she consents, they drive to her home. They immediately go upstairs and get into her bed fully clothed, where they are expected to talk all night without touching.
Bed courtship is practiced only by the ultra-conservative churches. The parents rely on the church teachings to prevent hanky-panky.
This custom is also known as bundling which the dictionary defines as sleeping in the same bed with somebody while both are fully dressed.
Bundling has biblical roots. It is not an Amish invention. The custom was practiced in Europe for centuries before immigrants introduced it to the American colonies.
In the past, the practical reason for bed courting was comfort. When homes were heated by fireplaces and had hard wooden furniture, the bed was the warmest, most comfortable place to socialize. As fireplaces and hard wooden chairs were replaced by central heating and comfortable sitting rooms, bundling faded (almost entirely) from the scene.
Note: Most of today's Amish communities do not practice bed courtship. Amish customs vary greatly from one community to another since each community has its own bishop who, with the church leaders, set the rules of their own community.
Today's recipe... Remember... Disclaimer: The Amish don't always follow updated USDA canning methods, they follow methods passed down from generation to generation. Use this recipe at your own discretion, or adapt it to your own method. I am sharing these recipes EXACTLY as they were sent to me and take no responsibility for them.
Amish Beet Jam
6 c beet juice
2 pkg Sure Jell
6 oz raspberry jello
1 ½ c lemon juice
8 c sugar
Place beet juice, Sure Jell, and lemon juice in large kettle and bring to a boil. Add sugar and jello all at one time. Boil 10 minutes and pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.
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