The "Spring Break Isn't Just For College Students" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Asked my wife if our granddaughters were going to have spring break this year.  For years their school in Maryland closed for the week after Easter and referred to the time off as Spring Break.  Since they started school later this year and due to quite a few days off due to inclement weather this winter, they will not have that break.  We in Pennsylvania never had Spring Break when I went to, as well as taught, school.  To us, Spring Break was always something reserved for college students.  During the week of Spring Break the college students would head south to warmer weather where they could bask in the sun and drink themselves sick.  But then someone told me the tradition of heading south began in the 1930s when devout groups of Anabaptists, both Amish and Mennonites headed to Siesta Key, Florida for December thru April.  Most of those that headed south were from Pennsylvania, especially Lancaster County.  Siesta Key is on the west side of Florida and has some of the brightest, white sand which is 99% pure quartz and seems to be always cool to the touch.  Quartz is said to have magical healing powers, therefore a great place to go to be rejuvenated.  Seems that during December to April one of the most impressive and unusual sights on the Siesta beach is the daily appearance of Amish with their distinctive garb.  They rent property away from the beach and head to the beach by bicycle or bus, since they don't have or drive vehicles.  Most speak German while on vacation.  The Mennonite people are generally not recognized since they dress as most everyone else does, but the Amish wear distinctive garments.

Women gather to play bocce ball in Florida.

Women wear single color dresses of cotton and are often pastel in color.  The men use suspenders on their black pants and if married, have a beard.  The Amish way of life emphasizes orderly community activities with behaviors that are governed by a set of rules known as the Ordnung.  These rules include expectations for lifestyle and recommending certain behaviors such as wearing proper clothes.  Ordnung applies for both living locally as well as when traveling.  

Two women ride bikes in front of mural.

But, when they head to Siesta Key they can use air condi- tioning and they can pitch religion a little bit and let loose!  It all started in 1925 when the first Anabaptists came to Florida seeking good agricultural land.  Others from the north began to visit and by the 1930s it became a tradition.  Many early Anabaptists settled in Sarasota County and took advantage of available land in the Sarasota National Tourist Camp, known as Pinecraft, which had 466 campsites.  Eventually a community developed with successful farms and other businesses such as produce markets and restaurants.  

Fish fry with locals and their Amish visitors.

So, just how do the Amish get there being they ride in horse and buggy.  They hop on a train or ride chartered buses specializing in trans- porting "Plain people".  They head toward Pinecraft with overflow visitors staying on Siesta Key of other close Gulf beaches.  Pioneer Trails bus line runs buses from Ohio and Indiana, where there are also large populations of Anabaptists, as well as a few places in Michigan to the area.  

Young Amish girls dressed in summer clothing.

From the very beginning the Amish and Mennonites lived in Siesta Beach where the young Anabaptists socialized away from the scrutiny of their elders.  Much the same as the college students of today do during Spring Break.  Being this is early March, you can bet that the Amish and Mennonites have been in Florida for some time already riding their electric tricycles to the beach.  And, you thought they were getting ready for spring planting, didn't you?  Hey, they'll be back in time for that, but right now they are having a good time during their "Spring Break."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Volleyball game for the girls and women.

Woman and her three children ride bikes in Pinecraft.