Chantal,
thank you so much for the history of the Anabapistes and how Mennonite and Amish communities evolved to how we know them today. I found it particularly interesting because I actually spent a few years growing up about two hours from Sainte Marie aux Mines. I lived in Saarland (on the German side of the border with Alsace Lorraine) in a small village called Saarlouis-Roden. I crossed the border into France every day to attend school in Saint Avold (about two hours north of Ste Marie aux Mines). It was not difficult, dialectically, to cross over from France into Germany in that region because of the Alsatian dialect (which today I still understand in bits and pieces but cannot speak anymore). On an aside, one of my grandmothers was from the Loir et Cher region of France, born in Blois. I still get around in French (with a slight Italian accent, hope you'll forgive me, because Italian and English are what I grew up speaking on a daily basis).

I do admire your English and so glad you joined the Forum!

Hello Lois and all the interested people about the French Amish story, I hope this little page will give you an idea about the past of these People. First of all I talk about the Founder of the Amish movement, then Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and at last the Amish story.
Jakob Amman1645-1730, is one of the main leaders of the religious anabaptist movement and founder of the Amish movement which settled down in Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines in 1696, coming from switzerland where his followers were persecuted.
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines is located in Alsace, region located in the east of France, very beautiful region with villages among wine yards with numerous half timbered houses in blossom. Alsace is on the north of the swiss border, so only about 300 miles away from the Bern Canton. The people are speaking french as well as a german dialect. Apparently this dialect is very similar to the one spoken by the Pensylvanian Amish. A French man from Alsace, working for United Nations in New York is saying : « when I feel home sick, I go to the Amish country in Pensylvania, I can hear and speak a dialect very close to my alsacian dialect ».
The Amish movement finds his roots in the anabaptist peaceful communities of the Bern Canton, located in the german speaking part of Switzerland, Bern being now, the capital of Switzerland. At that time this movement is not yet called Amish.
In the year 1528, the Edict of Spire (Germany) prohibited the anabaptism as the passed away children, without baptism, could not go to Heaven. Further to this Edict, the violence of the Berner authorities against the anabaptists became very hard, the anabaptists had 2 choices : either to be converted to reformed church (protestantism) or to emigrate. Most of the communities emigrated to Alsace. They have been welcomed by the authorities as the war of 30 years just ended and they needed new people to replace the people who died during the war.
The Amish Schism starts from the year 1693, the anabaptist minister of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Jakob Amman provoked a debate, about religious practices, between all the anabaptist communities (Mennonite). the schism devided the anabaptism communities in 2 parts : 69 pastor ministers remained with the same religious practices (Mennonite) but 27 followed Jakob Amman who founded the Amish movement. All the Amish stayed in Alsace, very close to Jakob Amman. They always lived in the countryside in the land of the lords who found their interest to give them farms, because they always return to the owners more than what would have produced a none Amish farmer.
In the year 1712 Louis XIV the Sun King (builder of Château de Versailles) takes an Edict of expulsion for the anabaptists Amish of Alsace as Catholicism is a state religion and has to be the only one religion of France. The track of Jakob Amman gets lost, he died before the year 1730 in Zellwiller Alsace. (the exact date is uncertain).
There are many Mennonites and Amish who passed in territories not submitted to king of France. Numerous also emigrated towards the Netherlands where is an important and prosperous Mennonite community, then, from there for north America.

Congratulations Rita!
Catching up this evening and just saw your post. I purchased a Bernina 440QE and thoroughly enjoy I know you'll enjoy the 750QE!

Barb

idaho wrote:
No French, or any other language for me either. Can't say that I am very proud of that fact. Chantel, just do the best you can and we'll be grateful.

Chantel...no fretting over your English... it will be far better than the no French that I have ! Will
love the history....didn't know there was a French /Amish connection.??

I am interested too, Chantel. My family came from the department of Doubs. We visited there some years ago and it was beautiful. I too fell in love with Paris. I hope to get back someday. We have Amish near us and I am interested in them also.

Being a bit of a history 'buff' - interested in history - I will also be interested to read of your findings Chantel. I used to have some French, but through lack of use over the last 20 yrs it is extremely rusty. It has been interesting, in a good way, stretching and digging through the old brain cells to keep up.

Lois, it will be a true pleasure for me to make these investigations as I am curious of everything. I know quite a lot about Amish history but I have to check, it will be very interesting for me, for you and maybe others.
Chantal

Thanks, Chantal. I didn't mean to make a lot of work for you. I was just interested in the history as it pertains to quilting. Only do it if it interests you, as well, and only if you would find it fun to do. Otherwise, I think you should use precious spare time for quilting.

Karen, thanks so much for the suggestion about the pool noodle. I do have some of those and I will try it as I am keeping the Janome.

Bonsoir Chantal et merci pour les informations sur Sainte Marie aux Mines. I would like to go to that exhibition some day. Sorry my French is not nearly as good as your English.

Hello Lois, I shall get as many informations as I can about the history and the living of the Amish in Sainte Marie aux Mines and I shall let you know about, but I need a little time to make my investigations and to translate it in the best english I am able to write. I shall do it with pleasure.
Chantal

Chantal, I am interested in the history of the town, Sainte Marie aux Mines. I live in central Pennsylvania in the USA. Lots of Amish have settled in the area and many still live here. Has there been a long history of quilting and patchwork in this town? Thank you!

Hi Rita, Unfortunately, there is no patchwork exhibition in Paris, it use to have some in the past, but nothing for this year. France has no quilting tradition, there is very few patchwork fabric shops in Paris, the fabrics are very expensive as well as patchwork notions, I order most of my notions and fabrics from USA.
Regarding patchwork exhibitions in France, there is a very important Fair in SAINTE MARIE AUX MINES in Alsace (East of France) Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork : www.patchwork-europe.com/sainte-marie-aux-mines4.php. I have never been there but many women I know are going there every year and they love it.
It is a huge exhibition with many well known artists from all over the world, sale of antiques quilts, sewing machines, embroidery machines, fabrics, notions etc. This village (Sainte Marie aux Mines) is the village where are coming from Amish ancestors. If you wish more informations about it, just ask me. I wish you a nice sunday.

Beautiful quilt, Brenda! I got the cheaper circle attachment that Sewing with Nancy makes, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm doing the Inspired by Libby challenge, too, but I won't tell you if it will have circles....