The term Fancy Dutch or Gay Dutch refers to the Pennsylvania Germans who do not belong to the Anabaptist 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 speilwerk, 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 aspects of their more worldly 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 into the larger culture of the United States. 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.
Famous quotes containing the words fancy and/or dutch:
“If I a fancy take
To black and blue,
That fancy doth it beauty make.”
—Sir John Suckling (1609–1642)
“‘Tis probable Religion after this
Came next in order; which they could not miss.
How could the Dutch but be converted, when
The Apostles were so many fishermen?
Besides the waters of themselves did rise,
And, as their land, so them did re-baptize.”
—Andrew Marvell (1621–1678)