Plautdietsch Mennonites in Belize

-

Some time back I had requested permission to use this picture but then forgot about it until recently I discovered it in my files.

  Although not all the Mennonites in this country speak it, there are 3 distinct groups of them in Belize who speak Plaudietsch, a Germanic language that has been part of the "Russian" Mennonites' since before they came to North America more than a century ago. In English it is referred to as Low German.
  In northern Belize we have the Altkolonie (Old Colony) Mennonites which many know simply as Shipyard Mennonites even though there are other communities of them besides Shipyard. Their Plautdietsch is untainted by English and Spanish words.
  In Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek, O.W., live the Kleine Gemeinde side by side with those who have left the KG church and attend liberal churches such as EMMC and Amazing Grace. These non-conservative Mennonites, together with the KG, speak an increasingly watered-down Plautdiesch. Older people can still speak the language like the Altkolonie, but not the younger generation.
  Old Order Mennonites who live in Barton Creek and Springfield in the central and south Cayo District (often mistaken for Amish) speak both Plautdietsch and Pennsylvania German from the US, which is different from the Low German of the "Russian" Mennonites. Later I will write about the reason for the two Germanic dialects spoken in this group. Despite these two, though, their Plautdietsch still retains more of the original speech than those of Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek.
 Some Plautdietsche words: schauble, bean, dankschoen, thank-you, mejal, girl.

Popular posts from this blog

Mennonite Foods

-
Image
         The Old Colony, Kleine Gemeinde, and Old Order have a diet which mainly consists of homemade bread, cottage cheese, noodles, pork, potatoes, and stewed beans. Milk is used in many of their meals, such as casseroles and faspa foods. Some dishes from the Plautdietsch groups are:   nuddelsuppe:  noodle soup made with home-made noodles    werenaki:  (perogies see picture above ) made of pockets of flour with  glums  (cottage cheese) filling,  schmaunfat  (white gravy made of flour, milk and black pepper), and  formavorscht  (pork sausage). The perogies are then boiled and served. I recommend it to anyone who wants to try out Plautdietsch foods although I prefer the fried ones.  Cheesy or creamy casseroles: often it will contain meat and cream with potatoes or macaroni   borscht:  a vegetable soup with bits of meat sometimes added to it    Clops: patties from either ground m...
Read more

Mennonites and Music

-
   Music, the comfort of the soul, the way of sin to some, a sign of true worship to others.   Within the Mennonite family in Belize music to some degree is used or listened to, with each branch viewing it based on their understanding of the Bible.                          The Kleine Gemeinde   Used to consider any musical instrument as wrong. But after acapella recorded music was approved, it introduced a need for tape recorders, then slowly over the years other instruments were approved. Church singing is still acapella, and radio and TV are still not accepted. However, instruments such as violins (which is often played by KG youth girls) and guitars are used during youth singing, community concerts, and personal entertainment or family singing. The organ is also used sometimes in such events.       The Beachy and Conservative Mennonites     Also sing acapella style dur...
Read more

Mennonite Houses

-
Image
 Mennonites in Belize have become famous for their custom-built wooden "Mennonite houses". The two main  house builders in the country,  Plett's Home Builders and Linda Vista Lumberyard , both located in Spanish Lookout, have become reknowned for their prefabricated houses which are built in Spanish Lookout and shipped countrywide. Houses are built from lumber or colored sheet metal and prices will vary of course based on the amount of details a customer wants. A small house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom and kitchen may cost you an estimated US$12,000 to US$15,000. (Check directly with the company for up-to-date pricing and delivery fees.)    A "Mennonite house", custom built by Plett's Home Builder's; photo via Facebook   Plett's Home Builders offers both metal and wood siding with a variety of porch and window designs. Linda Vista, which is just down the road from Plett's, also offers excellent building options. Also inside Spanish Lookout i...
Read more