Fancy Dutch

The term Fancy Dutch or Gay Dutch refers to the Pennsylvania Germans who belonged to the Reformed and Lutheran churches. They, unlike the Amish, Dunkards and the Mennonites who were considered sectarians, did not wear plain clothing, nor did they refuse to fight in wars. Many popularly-associated characteristics of Pennsylvania Dutch culture, including speilwork, hex signs, and other aspects of Pennsylvania Dutch art, music, and folklore, are derived from the Fancy Dutch. The tourism industry and mainstream media often erroneously attribute such contributions to the more conservative Plain Dutch, though they would reject these wordly aspects of their more superstitious Fancy counterparts.

The Fancy Dutch far outnumbered the sectarians among the Pennsylvania Dutch. Today however, most Pennsylvania German speakers are members of the plainer sects, the Fancy Dutch having been mostly assimilated. While the Plain Dutch regions centered around Holmes County, Ohio and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Fancy Dutch lived in the countryside around Reading, Allentown, York and Lebanon.

ee also

*Plain people